Learn The Law

What Every Employee Needs To Know About Worker’s Compensation

What should you do if you’re injured at work? What will happen if you can’t go back to your job? How much time off are you entitled to take? What is worker’s compensation, and how does it affect your employment? If you have been injured in the course of your duties as a team member, You may be eligible for worker’s compensation.

This article covers everything that every team member needs to know about this type of insurance, who’s eligible for it, and how to proceed following an accident. Keep reading for more information.

What Is Worker’s Compensation?

Worker’s compensation is a type of insurance that covers you if you get injured at work. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning that it does not matter who was at fault or who was negligent. It covers injuries that happen on the job no matter who was at fault.

The goal of this insurance is to provide income replacement and medical coverage to employees who are injured while on the job. This ensures that employees who get hurt while working can remain financially stable while they heal.

Workers’ compensation provides benefits for lost wages due to the inability to work, medical costs, vocational rehabilitation, and other expenses resulting from work-related injuries.

Who’s Eligible For Worker’s Compensation?

If you have been injured at work and you are a team member, then you may be eligible for worker’s compensation. The requirements for worker’s compensation vary by state.

Specifically, you must be injured on the job, your injury must be verified by a doctor as a team member injury, and you must be able to show that you are physically unable to continue working.

You are normally eligible for worker’s compensation if you are employed in the public sector, or are a team member of a private company or business. Worker’s compensation is generally not available to independent contractors (employees who work for themselves).

How To File A Worker’s Compensation Claim

The first thing you should do if you get injured on the job is to talk to your manager or supervisor. Tell them that you were injured while at work and let them know what happened. If you live in a state where employers must offer workers’ compensation coverage, then your employer must report the work injury to their insurance company.

You will also be asked to file a claim for worker’s compensation. If your company does not have worker’s compensation insurance, you will have to file a claim yourself. In this case, you must file with your state’s workers’ compensation board.

Are You Able To Return To Work?

If you are not able to return to work because of your injury, you will receive temporary benefits. If you are able to return to work with restrictions, there may be some modifications that need to be made to your work situation and/or your job duties.

If you have an ongoing injury that does not appear to be getting better, you and your employer will have to decide whether you can still do your job.

If the employer decides that you are unable to work with your injury, or that you are unable to do your job, you may be given the option to take a leave of absence while you receive treatment. If you are offered a leave of absence by your employer, you will likely be given some information to help you make a decision.

How Long Do You Get Off?

If you cannot work due to your injury, you may be eligible for temporary benefits through worker’s compensation. It is important to work closely with your employer and the workers’ compensation board to find out about your options for receiving benefits and, if necessary, filing for a claim.

If you receive worker’s compensation benefits, you will receive them for as long as you cannot work. At the end of this period, you may be able to go back to work and receive benefits again if there is no change in your injury.

If you cannot return to work because of your injury, your employer may offer you a disability retirement. Disability retirement means that you will receive a regular monthly payment for the rest of your life. Check with your employer if this is an option.

What Happens If You Can’t Go Back To Work?

If you cannot return to work because of your injury and your employer does not offer you disability retirement, you may be eligible for continued benefits. If your injury results in a permanent disability, you may be eligible for disability retirement.

Generally, the longer it takes to heal, the longer you will receive benefits. You will be evaluated by a doctor to determine whether your injury is work-related and how long you are expected to be out of work.

If your injury is long-term, your employer and the workers’ compensation board may suggest that you apply for disability retirement. This may be a good option for you if you have a permanent disability that keeps you from working.

Bottom Line

If you are injured at work, you should immediately report it to your manager and your company’s workers’ compensation board. The board will decide if your injury is work-related and, if so, whether you are eligible for worker’s compensation.

If you have been injured on the job and you cannot work, you will be eligible for benefits from worker’s compensation. How long you receive these benefits will depend on the extent of your injury.

Worker’s compensation benefits are meant to stabilize you financially while you are recovering from your injury. The sooner you begin receiving these benefits, the less likely you will fall into financial hardship while you heal.