| Workers' compensation insurance, commonly | | | | Another concern that is frequently raised is the |
| called workers' or workmen's comp, is a form of | | | | possibility of American companies moving parts of |
| insurance designed to provide compensation to | | | | their operations or even their entire companies to |
| workers who have been injured while on the job. | | | | areas with looser workers' comp law. In the |
| While the details can vary significantly from one | | | | United States, however, workers' comp laws are |
| plan to the next, insurance plans in this category | | | | nearly universal, and almost all employers must |
| typically provide for some form of wage | | | | carry the insurance in some form for their |
| replacement, payment and/or reimbursement of | | | | employees. |
| medical costs, compensation for economic losses, | | | | The body of laws governing workers' comp |
| possibly damages for pain and suffering, and | | | | insurance has become extremely complex and |
| settlements to the insured's dependents in the | | | | varies from state to state. For example, in many |
| case of a fatal work-related accident. | | | | states it is illegal to terminate an employee for |
| Given this broad range of covered areas - | | | | filing a claim or for reporting an injury incurred at |
| essentially combining the key features of disability | | | | the workplace. This isn't illegal in all states, |
| insurance, health insurance, and life insurance, | | | | however. And while most states don't allow |
| among others - workers' comp is certainly one of | | | | employers to deny employment based on |
| the more critical forms of insurance an individual | | | | previous workers' comp claims, employers are |
| can obtain. By knowing all you can about workers | | | | able to check a commercially maintained database |
| comp you can ensure that if an accident happens | | | | of claims, a system that could potentially be |
| on the job you are covered. If you are not you | | | | abused by unethical employers. |
| could find yourself and your family in trouble down | | | | Because abuse of the system has occurred on |
| the road. We all need money to pay the rent and | | | | the part of employees as well, stiff fines and |
| buy food and getting compensation for an injury | | | | other legal penalties are in place for persons who |
| at work can help you to pay for these | | | | file false claims for workers' compensation |
| necessities. | | | | benefits. While stories of supposedly injured |
| Workers' comp insurance is typically associated | | | | employees engaging in physically demanding |
| historically with labor or professional unions, and is | | | | activities are commonplace, little hard data exists |
| often the result of coordinated campaigns to | | | | to indicate what percentage, if any, of the claims |
| obtain the coverage for the union members. | | | | filed every year are actually fraudulent. |
| Proponents of workers' comp cite improved | | | | Vigorous investigation by employers, including |
| working conditions, economic support for | | | | tactics such as secretly video taping claimants |
| employees, and the safety net provided by the | | | | engaged in physical activity, have also undoubtedly |
| insurance, as key benefits of workers' comp. | | | | helped reduce the number of false claims. |
| Critics of this type of insurance cite increased | | | | Certainly the vast majority of claims filed are the |
| costs to employers and potential infringement on | | | | result of legitimate, unavoidable work-place injuries. |
| workers' rights to seek recompense on their own. | | | | |