IG Seeks Review of Comp-Fueled Staffing Crisis at Correctional Facilities

The New York State Inspector General’s Office is requesting an analysis to determine the causes of what it calls a staffing crisis caused by workers' compensation claims from correctional workers. Correctional officers in New York are afforded special benefits not available to most other workers covered by the workers’ compensation laws. Security services unit employees are entitled to up to six months of full pay for a workplace injury or illness before they have to choose whether to use accrued leave time or seek temporary disability benefits at two-thirds of their wage. Th...