Nursing home CEO Helen Sieger failed to obtain worker’s compensation insurance for her employees and learned the hard way about the new New York state law requiring employers to do so when she was arrested last week.

Sieger, 55, was arrested and charged with not covering employees with workers’ compensation insurance for over one year, from May 31, 2007 to June 26, 2008. Sieger employs more than 400 to take care of more than 300 nursing home residents.

"Today’s arrest should send a strong message: Employers who think they can wait until they get caught before getting workers’ compensation insurance are in for a rude awakening. Any employer trying to cheat workers and the State by failing to have workers’ compensation insurance will be held accountable by my office," [New York state Attorney General Andrew] Cuomo said in a statement.

The new state law makes it a felony offense to not have worker’s compensation insurance for all employees on the job.

Posted in: New York State, workplace accident |