Employers Denying Workers’ Compensation
As a system, workers compensation requires an agreement – and an understanding – between workers and their employers. For their part, workers agree not to sue their employer if they experience an injury on the job. But in exchange for this assurance, the employer has to provide medical coverage for injured workers. For the employment relationship to work, the workers must be confident that their needs will be addressed; if medical care is not forthcoming, the employer is taking advantage of his or her employees.
How Compensation Works
In order to pay for health care for injured employees, companies contract with insurance providers for a special workers’ compensation package. Premiums are usually based on the type of work (namely, how dangerous it is and how likely workers are to get injured), the costs of doing business in the state, the number of workers, and other factors. Just as being in few auto accidents keeps your car insurance premium affordable, a low number of job-site accidents helps make workers’ compensation insurance less expensive.
Employers Taking Advantage of the System
Unfortunately, according to a new study conducted by the University of Illinois, UCLA, and the National Employment Law Project, some employers regularly lie about serious on-the-job injuries and coerce injured employees not to file claims on their injuries. Among the failings:
- A paltry 8% of low-wage workers severely injured on the job filed a workers’ compensation claim.
- When they did file a claim, 50% were fired, told not to file for compensation, or had their legal rights violated in another manner.
- Doctors at companies claim they have been asked by employers to downplay the severity of injuries, in order to save the employers money.
Contact Us
If you or someone you love has been injured on the job and is having difficulty obtaining compensation, contact the Austin employment lawyers of Melton & Kumler, LLP, today by calling 512-330-0017