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From: Yaritza Brinker <YBrinker**At_Symbol_Here**FELE.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Who pays when a graduate student gets hurt?
Date: Nov 6, 2020 23:18 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
In-Reply-To: Re: [DCHAS-L] Who pays when a graduate student gets hurt?
What is happening is due to the way labor laws classify employees. Employees are either exempt (salary), non-exempt (hourly), or independent contractors. Students are classified
as independent contractors. Whether or not the employer issues a W2 is irrelevant to the employee's classification.
Yaritza
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
On Behalf Of Jakober, Chris**At_Symbol_Here**ARB
Sent: Friday, November 6, 2020 5:00 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Who pays when a graduate student gets hurt?
** External Email **
Hi Neal,
Thanks for the clarification!
Until there's improvements and greater consistency with respect to Workers Comp coverage, I think at a minimum institutions can easily do a better job of informing
potential graduate students of health insurance coverage nuances and potential gaps. Ideally with focused information tailored to how a student would be funded at said institution.
Have a great weekend,
Chris
From: NEAL LANGERMAN <neal**At_Symbol_Here**CHEMICAL-SAFETY.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2020 3:40 PM
Subject: Re: Who pays when a graduate student gets hurt?
Chris and all,
I totally agree that they should be covered. My point is the system is broken and the prudent thing is to insure yourself so you do not become a financial victim as well as an injury victim.
This is essentially the argument that is the basis of the ACS liability insurance for educators. The actual coverage is a confused mess. Why should an educator become a financial victim as the result of doing
their job and their employer did not provide any or adequate liability insurance.
If I had my way, there would be a system of uniform WC coverage. If you get compensated for your time/service, you are fully covered for on the job injury. I also would like to see uniform student coverage. If
you become ill or injured while a matriculated student, you are covered.
Sorry if I was not clear. The CEN article is indeed shocking. I hope it pushes some positive result.
Neal