Help Fight Discriminatory
Workers Compensation Proposal
Deadline for public comments is August 18
August 7, 2008
The Utah Labor Commission is changing the rules of Workers Compensation. Many immigrants and racial minorities who are injured on the job may end up losing their benefits if Rule R602-4 is approved. For example:
- An employer or its insurance carrier can request a hearing to eliminate an injured employee's benefits just by casting doubt on the employee’s citizenship status or right to work in the U.S.
- Once the employer/insurance carrier requests a hearing, the injured employee must prove that he or she has a right to work in the United States. This shifts the burden of proof to the injured employees.
- If the injured employees speak a foreign language, they must find, hire, and pay for an interpreter out of their own pocket.
- There is no penalty to the employer or insurance company for falsely accusing someone of not having citizenship or a work permit.
The Labor Commission is accepting public comments on the proposed rules until August 18, 2008. Please let the Utah Labor Commission know that you disapprove of Rule R602-4. At the bottom of this e-mail is a sample letter. Please send all your comments to three people:
Karla Rush
Labor Commission Adjudication
160 East 300 South, 3rd Floor
P O Box 146600
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6600
Phone: (801) 530-6691
Email: KRush@utah.gov |
Sherrie Hayashi
Labor Commissioner
160 East 300 South, 3rd Floor
P O Box 146600
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6600
Phone: (801) 530-6691
Email: SHayashi@utah.gov |
Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr
Utah State Capitol Complex
350 North State Street, Suite 200
PO Box 142220
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-2220
Phone: 801-538-1000
Phone: 800-705-2464
Fax 801-538-1528
|
Thank you for your efforts to protect the freedoms of everyone in Utah.
As an example, a letter to the Labor Commission could state:
Dear X,
I am writing to ask that the Utah Labor Commission change proposed Rule R602-4. When an employee is injured and qualifies for Worker's Compensation benefits, the employer should not be able to eliminate benefits by questioning the employee's right to work in the United States. If an employer chooses to illegally hire immigrants without papers, they should be responsible for any injuries that employee sustains on the job.
Injured employees become a burden on all taxpayers when they lose their worker's compensation benefits. Employers should not reap the benefits of illegal hiring practices and then be able to avoid any responsibility for injured employees by questioning an employee's citizenship. Please amend R602-4 to prevent employers who break the law from cutting off their injured employees.
Sincerely John/Jane Doe.
Read the ACLU of Utah's official statement on proposed Rule 602 >>
