It may seem as though certain industries are more hazardous to workers than others, and that individuals who work in offices may be less likely to get hurt while doing their jobs than people who work in agriculture, manufacturing, or construction. However, Illinois residents may be surprised to know that office workers can and do suffer many workplace injuries each year.
Reasons for workers' compensation denial
Recently, this blog posted an article concerning the role that alleged horseplay may have in the denial of a claim for workers' compensation benefits. If an Illinois worker is claimed to have suffered a workplace injury because they were acting silly or goofing around, then it is possible that their request for benefits may be denied as their harm was not the result of wrongdoing by their employer. Horseplay is not the only cause of denied workers' compensation claims and this post will mention a few others.
What happens if I do not report a workplace injury?
An Illinois employer may be required to provide a hurt worker with compensation if that worker's injuries occurred while they were at work or while they were performing work-related tasks. However, if that employer is never told about the worker's injury then they may never have cause to begin providing that individual with benefits. In essence, a worker's ability to collect workers' compensation benefits does not begin until they report their workplace harm to their employer.
When horseplay is the alleged cause of a workplace injury
Even for the most dedicated worker, it is challenging to stay completely focused and on-task 100 percent of the time when at work. Illinois workers bond with their supervisors and co-workers when they get to know them on a more personal level. However, when workers allow their on-the-job interactions to digress and injuries occur, they may have challenges seeking workers' compensation.
No hard feelings in a workers’ comp case
Many workers may hold the misconception that receiving compensation for workplace injuries involves suing your employer for being negligent. While there are some cases that may necessitate taking legal action against an employer, most do not.
What are musculoskeletal disorders?
Ergonomics is an important work topic as it relates to ensuring that a person has what they need to do their job safely. This can mean, for example, equipping a factory worker with something supportive to stand on to prevent back or leg stress or getting an office worker the right desk chair to make sure their seat is appropriate for their body. The failure of an employer to help a worker fit into the requirements of their job can lead to serious on-the-job injuries, including musculoskeletal disorders.
