If you suffered from an injury at work, it is likely that you had to take unpaid leave in order to recover. While workers' compensation insurance can go a long way toward helping you to recoup the wages that you lost as well as reimburse medical premiums that you needed to pay, there are some additional protections that you are entitled to as a worker who was injured on the job.
Returning to work after a job-related injury
Rights to rehabilitation as an injured worker
If you have been injured while you were at work, it is likely that you had to take unpaid leave in order to recover, and you may have also had to spend a significant amount on medical bills. When you suffer an injury due to your work obligations, your employer has the legal obligation to support you in your recovery through what is known as workers' compensation.
Employers shell out over $1 billion weekly for worker injuries
A recent Workplace Safety Index report published by Liberty Mutual shows that American employers paid out over $1 billion each week in 2015 for workers' injuries.
Tesla accused of underreporting safety issues
Electric car manufacturer Tesla has been accused of underreporting safety issues in the workplace, including known hazards to employee health and wellness. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is now carrying out an investigation to look into the claims.
What you are entitled to after a work injury
If you have been injured while carrying out your work activities, it is likely that you will have to take leave in order to recover. This can be a very stressful time for many injured employees, since they may worry about the rising medical bills as well as the lost wages that they are suffering.
Shoulder accidents that occurred at work
Accidents and injuries can occur in any workplace, from desk jobs to construction sites. The unfortunate thing about getting injured at work is that it can lead to needing to take time off work, and therefore, you may suffer from lost wages through no fault of your own.
Repetitive strain injuries among scientists
It has been reported that many scientists are afraid to draw attention to their work-related injuries out of fear that it might hurt their career prospects, according to The Scientist Magazine. It is common for scientists to be engaging in repetitive motion actions when carrying out experiments in the lab. However, this risk for injury as well as the importance of prevention and the treatment of such injuries is often underestimated and even ignored by employers.
Returning to work after a work-related injury
It can be an extremely stressful and frustrating experience to have been injured at work. Ironically, getting injured as a result of the tasks that you carried out at work can mean that you have to stop working for a time and lose wages as a result. Luckily, there are protections in place for workers so that they don't have to suffer financially while they are recovering and are not able to make an income.
Can filing a workers' compensation claim get you fired?
Many workers who get injured on the job hesitate in filing a workers' compensation claim because they fear that in doing so, they could either be retaliated against or fired. If this describes you, then you'll find comfort in knowing that in California it's illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee who files a workers' compensation claim.
Worker’s compensation and predesignation
Getting injured on the job can unfortunately be common in many industries, including construction, mining and farming. If you work in a high-risk industry, you may be concerned about medical expenses if you get hurt, and questions such as whether you can be treated by your regular doctor in the event of an injury.
