In practice, it allows employers to reduce health benefits for retirees when they become eligible for Medicare at the age of 65.

"These rules require employers to reduce injuries, and they have to do it to the extent feasible," he said.

"Having your largest employer reduce one quarter of the work force has sent shock waves through the greater New Haven area."

Also included, however, are provisions that require employers to drastically reduce the number of employees who drive to work alone in their cars.

The centers help employers reduce the work hours lost to family emergencies.

They can only be wistful about the months after 9/11, when employers reduced corporate travel and looked for alternatives like teleconferencing.

Typically employers reduced withholding to provide an increase in take-home pay without any effort required from taxpayers.

The law provides more than $70 billion in subsidies to encourage employers not to reduce coverage.

New government estimates suggest that employers will reduce or eliminate prescription drug benefits for 3.8 million retirees when Medicare offers such coverage in 2006.

The new Florida law allows employers to reduce medical benefits for injuries suffered on the job.