[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6193471,"mediaKeyId","3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff","parentId",3867055,"title","Family of worker killed on job urges higher worker-compensation funeral reimbursement","audioSeconds",1229,"startMs",3527000,"endMs",4756000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff&start=3527&end=4756","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff/thumbnail_3527000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193471/Massachusetts/Family-of-worker-killed-on-job-urges-higher-worker-compensation-funeral-reimbursement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193471-9ed0363113ecd8af64fa9d04d0225fb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447861&Signature=Uazb7jJc0Rh65Wj1Eq6dTw2nhW5LDLi0vHvnsJ8c9DGX0G6~ux3WBnCQ7PqHKXRdlbe-nXLW1cxQZBUlBLcqL4Cdm4UBxSyLWwlZ1QMuDcOY4CxRVPCwBjAdqix1ID6k4s8GQ4ihcL~W9u0YXRnHNGl-mJJPQpGRbxF5G2WRwXFqVd97bIWcTJdsMTqQDH4SjUsNuQn0ql4WgMruCq4lVjipTf2Odh5XAyPr0B6g4RAAJN~nPhHo6CHvz8iqhz8JDlLZHqoyn27tTGpjeNlF3j4Q-azodh~G2vPAV4cgGDfoU2Qjicj78T4YCs1c88SJH5hlRerOKNr1Zwb0F~~MwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Lovely and Rena Harrington, mother of Justin Harrington (a worker killed in a 2018 construction accident), testified in support of Senate 1353 and House 2138, legislation to increase the workers' compensation reimbursement for funeral expenses.

Why it matters: Testimony recounted a family's experience being left to pay funeral expenses because insurer payment and statutory limits did not cover typical funeral costs. Witnesses asked the committee to raise the cap so families are not saddled with immediate out‑of‑pocket costs after a workplace fatality.

Key testimony
- Senator Lovely described last session's movement on the issue and introduced the refiled bill, noting that the current statutory formula ties burial reimbursement to a multiple of the average weekly wage and can be insufficient for modern funeral costs.
- Rena Harrington recounted the 2018 death of her son, saying funeral expenses were not covered in full: “Families should not have to pick and choose what they can afford to pay when a loved one passes away unexpectedly and tragically while at work.”

Proposal details: The bill would require insurers handling workers' compensation to cover funeral costs up to $25,000 or ten times the average weekly wage, whichever is greater. Sponsors said this would more adequately reflect modern funeral costs that can exceed current reimbursement caps.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee received testimony and no formal vote was recorded at the hearing.

Ending: Supporters asked the committee to report the bill favorably so that families of workers killed on the job are not left with uncovered funeral expenses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development\t6/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Lovely and the mother of a man killed on a construction site urged the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to raise the workers’ compensation reimbursement cap for funeral costs, saying the current statute left the family facing out‑of‑pocket expenses.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193476,"Dozens testify in support of workplace psychological‑safety bills after injuries, long-term harm described",5080,6253000,11333000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff&start=6253&end=11333","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff/thumbnail_6253000.jpg","/articles/6193476/Massachusetts/Dozens-testify-in-support-of-workplace-psychologicalsafety-bills-after-injuries-long-term-harm-described","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193476-663fedae535951b01ea5485ff8529e74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447861&Signature=ZPfpLNIQM6kMQ4wk18Su0i5ObIPuabyDMtPZWEN81IC2iUa~5b89atMdnopqdQXtyXmGXnTHL-KkEbXdtqTRrnGcB0SwRugbcNxQe5eh394NXs3yHl5CS5d91II71PTMmHnCDMbx-RFUMYip3x2-dIDokh13W49XeAeVYRwWUiC1s6HxFC3MxqQunx~h4H~sEr7~ppW-qYEcfJ1cERnoJ0v-dpVT65e2FrAQpE-il1BtXgVh~aXbmi3YyRaMdVN5OHTQeP~CHnhNA9MrLD63MxRq1OLRuA9Ob4i3bR17KYdpqp~9z9qxW25CR97xfiX8I7B3feqLxi8Pj3Ohi2Z9iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Survivors of prolonged workplace bullying, health-care professionals, academic researchers and human-resources practitioners gave detailed testimony June 18 in favor of legislation to address psychological harm in the workplace.

The bills under discussion included Senate 1291 and Senate 1347 (Workplace Psychological Safety Act), and related drafts such as the revised approach (Senate 1316) that would impose a duty of care on employers to implement policies, training and responsive procedures to address severe bullying.

Why it matters: Witnesses described long-term mental- and physical-health consequences of workplace abuse — including anxiety, post-traumatic symptoms, cardiovascular events and suicide risk — and argued current law leaves many victims without practical remedies.

Selected testimony
- Professor David Yamada (Suffolk University Law School), who helped draft earlier versions of the Healthy Workplace Bill, described a revised approach that “puts a duty of care on all employers to act responsive preventively and responsibly towards workplace bullying,” emphasizing prevention and early intervention as a way to reduce litigation.
- Survivors and clinicians recounted medically documented harms: psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Sykes described how workplace bullying compounded post-COVID health problems; nurse Mary Ann Marshman recounted repeated bullying across nursing workplaces and cited a national nursing survey in which a large percentage of nurses reported bullying.
- Witnesses representing End Workplace Abuse, the National Writers Union and multiple grassroots survivor groups urged passage of S1291/S1347 as a way to create enforceable employer obligations and safe reporting paths.

Discussion vs. decision: Testimony was extensive and came from multiple professions; no committee vote was recorded. Several witnesses asked the committee to adopt a standard that emphasized prevention, training and an enforceable duty for employers.

Ending: Supporters asked the committee to pass the measure as a public-health and workplace-safety intervention; committee members did not announce a vote date during the hearing.","Workers, health professionals and legal advocates delivered emotional testimony supporting bills (S1291/S1347 and related drafts) that would establish employer duties and civil remedies for severe workplace bullying and psychological abuse.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193481,"Supporters urge raising $15,000 cap on disfigurement benefits, expanding covered body areas",9576,402000,9978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff&start=402&end=9978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff/thumbnail_402000.jpg","/articles/6193481/Massachusetts/Supporters-urge-raising-15000-cap-on-disfigurement-benefits-expanding-covered-body-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193481-de62b66a9cdb48ae849d89e6ca163c14/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447861&Signature=D~ooCuRQu-Rw3JToVcjxNXFGLFZrWMVHRlceU5uyuX40aLze-RoVjueNF3dhA4spwOrLdvQoOSjQfPbxXWU2ReH6dSTAK8FiP9xoyLf885aR-kKFhqO4hqptl2lI8noIxvdCovsiTy5CkliDuJHnR952IDaYeOYHDiY22DSo7Co-ooqWFm2TixGYX2HQE9Vxnb5pQ4TOYleRlsp-5eQra22o3DcKLi-1UkrIs9CN8cTLNDiYYM2~gkRHD4vOZ9AxgwYsYuKoPQZF9c87fSzhf91SteLKMQWN6inUXAJTqzeAbiJ7Ut4Xwd64cqGNDt33Z9DKv3c877OL2OJH6aKZng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Chris Hendricks and Representative Bridal (filed with Hendricks) told the committee that House 2105 would remove a $15,000 statutory cap on scar-and-disfigurement awards and expand compensable disfigurement from scars limited to the hands, neck and face to scars across the entire body.

Why it matters: Testimony framed the provision as a 1990s-era limit that has not kept pace with wage growth or medical and financial realities. Supporters proposed linking the award cap to the state average weekly wage (or indexing it) rather than leaving a fixed $15,000 ceiling in statute.

Key testimony
- Rep. Hendricks said “H2105 was drafted with the intention of making the distribution of workers' compensation benefits more fair,” and that the $15,000 cap “was created in 1990” and “went a lot further than it does today.”
- Attorney testimony at the hearing explained the math: the laws in effect tie some scarring and disfigurement benefits to the state average weekly wage; a fixed-dollar cap has eroded over decades of wage growth and inflation and can leave seriously injured workers with limited compensation.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee took testimony from bill sponsors, attorneys and other witnesses but made no formal vote or amendment on June 18.

Ending: Sponsors asked the committee to advance H2105 to update the statute, index awards to wage changes and expand the body areas eligible for scar-based awards, and to consider related changes to funeral-benefit limits discussed elsewhere in the hearing.","Lawmakers and advocates pressed the committee to update a workers' compensation formula that testifiers said caps disfigurement awards at $15,000 and limits scar-based awards to scars on the hands, neck and face; supporters proposed indexing the cap and expanding coverage to the entire body (House 2105).",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193485,"Advocates push for 'Act to Protect Injured Workers' to strengthen anti-retaliation enforcement",2611,3338000,5949000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff&start=3338&end=5949","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff/thumbnail_3338000.jpg","/articles/6193485/Massachusetts/Advocates-push-for-Act-to-Protect-Injured-Workers-to-strengthen-anti-retaliation-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193485-ebbb41919d56cdee9cd46891306c772e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447861&Signature=EJT3vOA94qOERmG7JgkekvIexiPVgd7EwRFQVqx4yz0pI29kiF-k96Fa3q3wwYjEHzobVAPlqYO~R~6lAW5wJN8Mt682DLukGsdNLFwidHaXWawMokN6VgiE07W1cEjwYKT4AI3upekviNB5rsJ4a3zOVOEVsbu4H3Z5iVAGhJGjwnCKeIPHUUfbpvqb0ArzZPPBS9nrBCc1H457DcQ2PcF71WxMzRqlCGEiECJ56nPlYgXCePViFyBzAZOFfItLUKGfHuSfma5lj7zdk3zJtu6Qcwv87RSuFvUn7PbyQDY98AJh3DQqTpdsawshy4V4NY9BpkYqt6vaaSWQpGhWLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of advocates, physicians and legal experts told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development that the commonwealth’s workers’ compensation system needs stronger anti-retaliation measures to ensure injured employees can access care and benefits.

The bills most central to this panel were House 2151 and Senate 1310, commonly referred to in testimony as “an act to protect injured workers.” Testimony came from Greater Boston Legal Services, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), the Mass. AFL-CIO, legal practitioners and workers’ centers.

Why it matters: Witnesses described patterns of employer intimidation and retaliation — from threats to call immigration enforcement to alleged falsification of accident circumstances — that discourage injured workers from pursuing medical care and workers’ compensation claims. Advocates said the bills would expand remedies and enforcement authority, add notice and language-access requirements, and create a rebuttable presumption of retaliation when adverse actions follow an injury within a defined period.

Notable testimony
- Audrey Richardson of Greater Boston Legal Services described the bill as “narrowly crafted to address the specific weakness in the law in coverage and remedies for retaliation” and noted the proposal has been reported favorably by this committee in previous sessions.
- Stacy Sobieszek, a workers’ compensation attorney, said retaliation is “rampant” and described clients who were threatened with ICE, forced to keep working through injury, or who had benefits delayed by employers. She supported the bill’s creation of a rebuttable presumption of retaliation when adverse actions occur within 90 days of a claim.
- The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition said the proposal would require multilingual notice of rights to workers and allow the Attorney General’s office to investigate employer retaliation against workers regardless of immigration status.

Discussion vs. decision: The hearing produced detailed testimony and multiple requests for a favorable report. No committee vote or formal direction to staff was recorded on the hearing record.

Ending: Advocates asked the committee to advance the bill, citing precedent from prior sessions and a broad coalition of signatories that includes unions, worker centers and legal aid organizations.","A broad coalition of legal services, unions, immigrant advocacy groups and injury-law experts urged the Joint Committee to advance legislation (H2151 / S1310) that would expand protections and enforcement tools for workers who report job injuries.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193490,"Teamsters, warehouse workers and unions urge committee to pass quotas and heat-safety bills",394,678000,1072000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff&start=678&end=1072","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867055-bc1eabd99b82d757551ccb0aa016efff/thumbnail_678000.jpg","/articles/6193490/Massachusetts/Teamsters-warehouse-workers-and-unions-urge-committee-to-pass-quotas-and-heat-safety-bills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193490-fbff0fd4c97e93755062304554925e7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447861&Signature=HKrNYWhjZ-iDkI0JdPB7ULF1bsRizc-XeyagZGxF~3S3Hv4QtjahGzsHcjpGBPMaAg2KzJOYq04auRRMUc5IjYOXJKWsI~4qlJ32DsN3YTt5O2fecxj-56iGjO1A3TBMWzOi8stY7iZVG9kgvZfB8w3BzMJMijTf2X6cQybRo1oA0SGD75MUGLzrqFu0h~WSL2CUBvT2heGhGymDM-3wx2GeBxk83sGCO6Z3sN7jAPFdUMwLBb5yslOsOrpjMTC~qeEUYbZnqvJyyXwryTDTXeDV3Wtg-KIgBiFOtxT~OJexbV7hZGeZ872IEzVtR0wUiJ0WgdoiexlISKnryGEAKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A coalition of Teamsters representatives, current and former warehouse employees, and public-health advocates testified June 18 before the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development in favor of bills that would curb secret productivity quotas and require employers to protect workers from extreme heat and cold.

The bills discussed most often were House 2103 (warehouse quota protections) and House 3995 (protections from extreme temperatures), and their Senate counterparts (Senate 1307 and Senate 1355). Teamsters Local 25 President Thomas Murray told the committee the bills would “allow employees to require their work speed data” and shield workers from retaliation for requesting that information.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the largest warehousing and logistics employers operate monitoring systems and quota regimes that drive unsafe speed and can deter workers from taking breaks or seeking medical care. Several witnesses described indoor temperatures that reached levels that caused heat illness, limited or delayed access to water and cooling, and insufficient protective clothing or equipment in cold-storage areas.

Most-watched points from testimony
- Thomas Murray, president of Teamsters Local 25 and secretary-treasurer of Joint Council 10, said data- and quota-related discipline produced unusually high injury rates and urged the committee to “release House 2103 in 17 in Senate 71307, an act of protecting warehouse workers, and House 3995 in 7 Senate 13 55, an act of protecting workers from extreme temperature, out of committee with a favorable report.”
- Current and former employees described extreme indoor conditions: Sal (Steve) Valente, a UPS shop steward, said trailers heated in the yard reached “roughly 120 degrees plus” on hot days and that the company prioritized production over breaks and ventilation. Former Amazon worker Maximus Cardone told the committee internal warehouse temperatures sometimes reached “around a 120 degrees.”
- Witnesses sought specific protections in the heat bill including paid rest breaks, access to drinking water, shade and cooling or warming stations, personal protective equipment, and training for supervisors to recognize signs of heat-related illness.

Supporting details: Several speakers referenced research and enforcement actions in other states. Murray cited fines and enforcement in California and recent bills in Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island and Connecticut as precedents for similar protections. Witnesses said employers sometimes require workers to buy their own PPE (testifiers described small annual stipends of $100–$300 for shoes or cold-weather clothing) and that those amounts are insufficient when items are single-use or get soaked and must be replaced frequently.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee heard extensive testimony but did not vote on any bill during the hearing. Multiple speakers asked the committee to report the bills favorably; no formal committee actions were recorded at the hearing.

Ending: Committee members did not announce a schedule for a committee vote during the hearing. Supporters asked the panel to advance the bills so that the Legislature can align Massachusetts with other states that have enacted warehouse- and heat-safety protections.","Union leaders, warehouse employees and labor advocates told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development that bills to limit secret quotas and to require employer protections from extreme temperatures are needed to curb injuries and heat- and cold-related illness in Massachusetts warehouses and distribution centers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Family of worker killed on job urges higher worker-compensation funeral reimbursement

Dozens testify in support of workplace psychological‑safety bills after injuries, long-term harm described

Supporters urge raising $15,000 cap on disfigurement benefits, expanding covered body areas

Advocates push for 'Act to Protect Injured Workers' to strengthen anti-retaliation enforcement

Teamsters, warehouse workers and unions urge committee to pass quotas and heat-safety bills