The new workers' compensation whistle-blower web site, which allows citizens to submit referrals of alleged violations of workers' compensation rules, has produced hundreds of new complaints and over $500,000 in penalties since its launch in June, according to a news release from CFO Alex Sink.
The new program operates through the Division of Workers Compensation's web site at www.fldfs.com/wc/index.htm. It allows complainants to electronically submit referrals of suspected noncompliance and receive feedback and updates without revealing their identities. It also provides real-time feedback to complainants. Additionally, the site allows the division to input referrals and initiate investigations more rapidly. Since its launch three months ago the site has received 328 referrals online, resulting in 36 stop-work orders and $526,000 dollars in assessed penalties.
The division conducted nearly 30,000 worksite investigations to determine employer compliance for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Examples of non-compliant workers' compensation coverage include working without workers' compensation, under-reporting payroll (such as paying employees in cash instead of by check from payroll), and misclassifying employees in order to receive a lower workers' compensation rate.
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