If you get hurt at work, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. You should also be able to expect that your employer will support you rather than punish you for getting hurt on the job.
Unfortunately, there are businesses that try to punish or retaliate against workers who claim workers’ compensation benefits to bully that individual worker and deter others from doing the same thing in the future.
What are some of the more common forms of retaliation you might experience after getting hurt on the job?
Your employer fires you
When you report getting hurt on the job, you may need to leave to seek medical care. Your employer might try to tell you that if you leave before the end of the shift, that they will fire you.
They may also warn you that they will fire you if you make a benefit claim. In some cases, rather than threaten you, they will simply notify you of the termination after you leave work for treatment or submit a benefits claim.
Your employer demotes you or cuts your pay
If your work injury will stop you from performing the functions of your usual job, you may need temporary accommodations to keep working. Your employer can offer you reduced pay if they alter your job responsibilities, but that should be a temporary situation.
Additionally, you should have the right to claim partial disability benefits due to the decrease in your income. If your employer changes your job title or permanently reduces your pay, that could be a form of retaliation.
Knowing your rights after a work injury, including the right to make a workers’ compensation claim without facing retaliation, can help you during your recovery.