What is workers compensation?
Workers’ Compensation insurance is a program established by State law which all employers having one or more employees, full or part-time, are required to have for the benefit of their employees. It is a no-fault system under which injured employees receive benefits in connection with work-related injuries or occupational illness. The Workers’ Compensation Commission is the State Arbitration Board that ensures employees are given fair treatment in the event of a work-related accident or illness. For an injury to be considered compensable under workers’ compensation, the injury must “arise out of and in the course of employment.” Who pays for Workers’ Compensation Insurance? Workers’ Compensation Insurance is paid entirely by the employer. No payroll deductions are taken out of individual employees’ paychecks. What is the first step I should take if I am injured while at work? Make your supervisor aware of the incident immediately, seek medical treatment if necessary, then complete the
Every state has passed workers’ compensation laws that provide benefits to employees injured at work. These laws have a variety of names, such as workers’ compensation, workman’s compensation, worker’s compensation, or work comp. These laws require that employees suffering on-the-job injuries receive compensation to replace lost wages and cover medical expenses. Most state laws provide that employers must either carry insurance through a private carrier or show that they can self-insure against claims by workers injured on the job. Other states provide that employers must pay into a state workers’ compensation fund. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. No matter what caused the injury – worker’s negligence, employer’s negligence, or a combination of the two – workers injured on the job receive benefits under the law. For the most part, states, rather than the federal government, regulate workers’ compensation. However, some workers, such as maritime and railroad workers, are cov
