As reported on www.nj.com, State Senate President Stephen Sweeney announced proposed legislation to remove the requirement that workers deemed essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, and who become sick, prove they contracted the coronavirus at work.  The bill is not only limited to healthcare, law enforcement and first responders, but will also extend to employees of grocery stores and other businesses that have been deemed essential and employ workers who must be on location and serving the public.

This Bill would serve as a complete change to the current standard requiring the employee to prove that he/she suffered a job-related illness or injury.  Rather, the proposal would create a presumption during this public health crisis that essential employees’ COVID-19 related illnesses are related to their work.

PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED FLOWCHART OUTLINING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HANDLING A NEW NJ WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIM.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our Workers’ Compensation attorneys in our Mt. Laurel office at (856) 761-3800.