GAO Review Request on Hearing Loss Claims under the LHWCA Summary On September 16, 2025, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting a GAO review of hearing loss [...]
Federal District Court Ruling on Remote Work Compensation Summary Case: Lott v. Recker Consulting LLC (S.D. Ohio). Issue: Whether remote call center workers must be paid for time spent booting up and shutting down their computers. Ruling: Judge Douglas R. Cole held that under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the compensable [...]
Summary and Analysis: DOJ Guidance on Religious Telework Accommodations Summary Topic: DOJ Clarifies Religious Telework Accommodations Date: Sept. 19, 2025 Source: Rebecca Klar & Khorri Atkinson, Bloomberg Law DOJ Memo: The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued a memo clarifying that federal workers may telework as a religious accommodation [...]
Workers’ Compensation Fraud Case United States v. Sandra “Sandy” Cannon Throneburg Issue Whether Sandra “Sandy” Cannon Throneburg, a former USPS rural carrier, violated federal law and FECA requirements by concealing employment while receiving federal workers’ compensation benefits. Rule - Under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, it is a federal offense to knowingly and [...]
Postal Worker Suicide and Death Benefits In K.P. and U.S. Postal Service, No. 23-0936 (ECAB 05/12/25), the widow of a postal worker claimed death benefits under FECA, alleging her husband’s suicide was caused by intractable pain from his work-related bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The worker, age 48, had stopped working after surgery [...]
What You Need to Know About the Back the Blue Act of 2025 In July 2025, a new piece of bipartisan legislation hit the floor of Congress: the Back the Blue Act. Introduced by U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jared Golden (D-ME), the bill seeks to significantly bolster protections for federal [...]
FederalSpending Training and FECA ExpansionBillsThe U.S. House is considering two new legislative proposals. The first, HR-4320, would require federal employees at the GS-11 level and above to complete annual training on federal spending laws. This includes the Purpose Statute, the Antideficiency Act, and the Impoundment Control Act, as well as specific instructions from [...]
Summary and Commentary: House Panel Revisits FECA-Related Issues A U.S. House Education and Workforce subcommittee recently held a hearing on potential reforms to the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), which provides wage replacement and medical benefits to federal employees injured on the job. The hearing explored several proposed changes to improve program [...]
How Do I Appeal an OWCP Decision? Appealing OWCP Denials with Expert Legal Help from Carlos Zaldivar at Zaldivar Law If your federal workers’ compensation claim has been denied or only partially approved by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), don’t give up. You have legal rights—and several options—for appealing an [...]
Is There a Federal Workers’ Compensation Law? What You Need to Know If you’ve been injured on the job and work for the federal government, you may be wondering: “Is there a federal workers’ compensation law?” The answer is yes—and understanding how it works is essential to protecting your rights and securing [...]
