While no one wants to be in a position to have to file a workers’ comp case, if you have been injured, it is important you know your rights. If you work for a small business, you should still have access to workers’ comp claims if an accident happens on the job. Here are five indicators that your employer might not be giving your workers’ comp case the attention this deserves.
1. If there isn’t a Clear Process in Place
If you work for a small business or your manager is also your HR representative, paperwork for workers’ comp issues can get murky quickly. The best-case scenario is if your employer immediately gets in contact with their insurance to help with the process. If you feel as if your employer isn’t following up for swift advice on your claim, or is asking you to shoulder any research if figuring out next steps, this can be a red flag. Follow up with your employer on your case, and if you don’t think a claim is being processed, it might be time to look into outside advice.
2. No Follow-up from a Third-Party Health Care Professional
Workers’ comp claims and workplace-related injuries will require a visit with a doctor, and many times, this will be set up with a third-party, unbiased professional through your employer’s insurance provider. If your employer is recommending to go to your personal physician or is offering to pay for your medical bills on their own, it can be a clear indicator that your injury has not been filed as a claim. Ask for proof of your workers’ comp claim. If your injuries worsen, you’ll be protected with follow-up medical assessments and for possible time off.
3. Your Employer Doesn’t Take Your Injuries Seriously
Another red flag might be if your employer tries to minimize your injuries or doesn’t believe that you sustained them at work. They are not in a position to make this call, since this should be done through an insurance claim or third-party representative. If your boss asks you to just see how you feel in a few days or flat out denies your injuries are from work, it is time to take your documentation to a workers’ compensation attorney to review your case.
4. Delays With Your Claim
If it has been weeks since you’ve heard anything from your employer on your workers’ comp case, it might be time to check in. If you are dealing with medical issues or are stressed from your work-related injuries, this might feel like the last thing you want to follow up on. The thing is, if your claim isn’t going through the proper channels, you might not get the backup you’ll need eventually when it comes to compensation and time-off for injuries. If you are tied up with medical-related issues, hire an attorney to help with this step.
5. If Your Medical Leave is Frowned Upon
If you are out of work for medical reasons due to an injury at work, you should not feel further judged by your employer for needing time off to recuperate. This isn’t something you will want to do off-the-record. Having medical records and proof of leave is important .Your employer might say it’s okay to take a few days off only to come back and go back on their word if this wasn’t documented as a workers’ comp injury. Getting injured on the job is serious, and minimizing your injuries or recuperation time can lead to other problems down the road.
Protecting yourself when it comes to workers’ compensation injuries needs to be your number one priority. If you have suffered injuries in the workplace but are getting nowhere with your workers’ comp claim, bringing in a lawyer to review your case and get this back on track will be key. If you are worried your employer isn’t treating your workers’ comp case seriously, contact us to help protect your rights.