If you sustain an injury at work or contract an illness, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The first step to receiving these benefits is reporting the injury to your employer. You need to be careful when doing this, as some mistakes can jeopardize your ability to receive the benefits.
Below are two tips to employ:
Report immediately
It’s vital to report a work injury immediately or as soon as you notice symptoms in the case of an illness. Doing this ensures you get medical attention sooner, reducing the chances of a condition worsening or contracting secondary infections.
Additionally, employees should report a work injury within 30 days. Thus, failing to report your injury within this period can negatively impact your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits.
Report in writing
Although you will first report your injury verbally, you should also send a written notice to your employer. The notice should include the date, time and place of injury, the nature of the injury and your name and address.
Your employer may provide you with a form to fill out this information. But if they don’t, you can use the online form provided by the Department of Labor.
Ensure that you make a copy of the written notice for yourself. Further, write down the date you mail the notice to your employer. If you hand deliver it, write down the date and time you do so. If someone else receives the notice on behalf of your employer, write down their name and title.
The steps you take when reporting a work injury are crucial. Your initial decisions can result in a smooth or challenging experience regarding receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Be adequately informed to avoid costly mistakes.