How does worksman comp work? Will you loose your job or your employer have to pay the bill?

Question

I am in GA and already returned to work. I was just released from the physician with a 3 percent permenant decrease of function in my knee. I had surgery a year ago. I don't know what to do now with workmans comp. I don't want to loose my job.

Answer 1

Generally workers comp is an insurance that all companies are required to have.  It prevents you (claimant) from suing the your employer.

You shouldn't lose your job because you have a claim, it's pretty unethical for a company to fire somebody because they got hurt at work.  However it can happen for one thing somebody could released back to modified duty and not show up to work, thus that person could be fired for not showing up to work.  But all claims are different.

Don't worry about your job, show up to work.  As for your 3% impairment rating, you should get an amount of money for your knee.  Not sure how much it would be since each state is different but it could be no more than $1500 as my best guess.

Answer 2

Workers compensation is not a guarantee of your job.  It is basically an insurance policy that each company must have to cover the injuries of its employees while in the job of their employment.

If your injury was permanent and there was no way you could ever go back to work, this insurance would compensate for that, however, it seems like you are able to return to work.

Whether your lose your job I suppose would depend on whether or not you can still do the work your job entails.

Workers Compensation is NOT a guarantee of employment.

Answer 3

Well, exactly how it works varies from state to state.

Generally, the employer doesn't pay any bills, except the workers comp insurance premium.  The insurance company will pick up the tab for medical bills, and after a waiting period which varies, lost wages while you can't work due to the injury.

The employer doesn't have to hold your job open for you - which means, if they fire you, you now have to pay your own health insurance, also, via cobra.  But even if they fire you, the MEDICAL bills and lost wages keep getting paid, until you are able to work again, or until the state mandated time period runs out (as soon as two years), or until you hit 65.

Your employer doesn't pay YOUR bills, if you get injured.

Answer 4

You pay for workers compensation every pay check for one specific reason; if you get hurt ON THE JOB the employer pays for medical expenses and for the time needed to be off.  Now, however, some invidual state laws are different, I'm basing it off Kansas State Laws.  Also, no they can not fire you for being hurt ON THE JOB in Kansas.