What Are Employers Responsible for in Re: Workers’ Compensation?
Work Injury Lawyer
It is sometimes helpful to understand not only what rights you have as a worker but also what obligations your employer is compelled to honor. Without this knowledge, filing for workers’ compensation benefits and exercising your rights in other ways can become unnecessarily confusing and burdensome. Certainly, our firm is always here to help you clarify your rights, understand your employer’s rights, and exercise any legal options available at any given moment. However, you may not even be sure of what you’d like to ask us until you better understand your rights and your employer’s obligations. This is not only okay and understandable, it is a very common challenge that workers face. After all, workers’ rights and employer obligations are not widely discussed in American society. If you’re unsure of where you stand in this regard, you are absolutely not alone.
Employee Rights and Employer Obligations
When it comes to workers’ compensation, workers’ rights are relatively straightforward. When workers are hurt on the job (or when otherwise engaging in work-related activities) or become ill as a result of their working conditions, they are (if they’re eligible for coverage) entitled to submit a workers’ compensation claim. They may be compensated for medical costs related to the harm they’ve suffered, time off of work, and/or rehabilitation assistance when appropriate. Every state’s workers’ compensation system is a little different, so the “ins and outs” of your rights will vary depending on where you live. However, the general protections afforded to those covered by workers’ compensation are universal.
Employers’ obligations also vary depending on the state in which they operate. For example, some states require workers to submit a claim for compensation, while other states require employers to submit this documentation. The primary responsibilities that employers are required to honor involve purchasing any workers’ compensation coverage mandated under the law, reporting injuries as they occur per federal, state, and local regulations, as well as cooperating with the insurance claims process when employees get hurt. In the event that a worker is injured in such a way that they can’t return to their original position, an employer may also be required to assist that worker with transitioning to an alternative position or training for alternative employment. Again, the “ins and outs” of these responsibilities vary from state to state. It is therefore a good idea to speak with our firm directly if you have any specific questions or concerns about your employer’s obligations under the law. It should be noted “from go” however, that employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who lawfully exercise their rights under the workers’ compensation system. contact a work injury lawyer, for more information, contact our friends at Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt .