Prepare for a spike in lawsuits claiming unsafe working conditions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, clusters of illnesses have been reported in workplaces where employees work in close proximity. And lawsuits relating to unsafe working conditions that promote infections--either through disregard for social distancing, face masks or other protections--are likely to skyrocket this year.

If an employee can prove the employer acted recklessly, he or she can recover more than just workers' comp.

This is more incentive to make sure your company is following CDC and local guidelines on all COVID protection measures. Juries will become more sympathetic to all types of workplace injuries as disabilities, even those unrelated to COVID.

Recent case: Doris worked on the production line at a chicken-processing plant. She claimed that when she developed diabetes and began fainting at work, her...