Chronically Ill Workers Loath to Tell Employer

Employees are reluctant to tell their employers about their chronic health issues, according to a recent survey by Harvard health researchers.
Among the findings, some 76% of workers surveyed said they spend time during work hours managing their conditions.
Less than half of all workers say their employer is very supportive of allowing employees to take breaks (44%) or take paid leave (44%). Even fewer say their employer is very supportive of scheduling flexibility (37%) or working remotely (27%), even if the work can be done this way.
The researchers said that without workplace policies that accommodate the health issues, forcing those employees to manage chronic health conditions while on the job could affect both workplace well-being and employee retention.
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The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health is voicing concerns about Kentucky’s proposed House Bill 398 (HB 398), legislation the group said threatens to “dismantle essential workplace safety protections in a state already grappling with alarmingly high workplace fatality rates.”
While acknowledging that Kentucky has historically maintained occupational safety and health standards that exceed federal requirements, tailored to protect its workforce effectively, the group said, “the implications of this bill extend far beyond Kentucky, potentially setting a precedent that could undermine worker safety standards nationwide.”
Among the provisions in the bill, it would prevent the enforcement of any regulation stricter than federal OSHA requirements; Require supporting evidence for claims before an inspection is conducted; Clarify who may participate in workplace inspections to ensure a more efficient process; and, Establish clear timelines for filing and resolving complaints to limit disruptions to business operations.
Kentucky is one of 22 states with its own state-managed occupational safety and health program, known as a “state plan,” which can impose more stringent regulations than those set by federal OSHA.
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Swerdlow Group Holdings will implement extensive heat safety measures for construction workers on its $3 billion Miami redevelopment project, marking the first since a state law barred local governments from requiring such protections.
The developer agreed to voluntarily implement a comprehensive heat safety program, making it the first developer to take such action since the passage of HB 433, a Florida law that prohibits local governments from mandating heat protections for workers.
Swerdlow will provide on-site education for workers and construction managers, access to hydration and cooling stations, designated shaded areas, and continuous monitoring to ensure compliance with workplace safety protocols.
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A Seattle PBS station reported that the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries keeps details of severe workplace injuries, deaths from the public.
State law categorizes as confidential health and safety investigations into worksite serious injuries and deaths and automatically exempts them from the public disclosure, limiting access to a small few.
Toby Nixon, who leads a state advisory group tasked with reviewing current public disclosure laws, sees a legitimate public interest in these investigation reports.
Separately, local media reported that a father of 12 died last year while cleaning out a tanker truck filled with toxic chemicals for a company that tops Washington state’s list of severe workplace safety violators.
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