All workplaces have a certain level of risk, with some containing more hazards than others. In most cases, your employer should have workers’ compensation coverage, which means you can receive some income while you recover from your work-related injury.
In some cases, employers may not want you to file for workers’ compensation and may go out of their way to make your life difficult once you do. You are within your rights to file for workers’ compensation and negative behavior from your employer toward you because of a claim is known as retaliation, which is unlawful.
Outlined below are some of the more common examples of workers’ comp retaliation.
Reducing your hours
You’re healed up and ready to work again. You’ve been with the company for years and always had the same schedule. Upon your reappearance, this schedule has changed. Your hours have been slashed, which means you take home a lot less pay at the end of the month. You’re getting a sense that this was done out of resentment toward your workers’ comp claim. Your employer is not happy because their premium has risen a little bit, and they blame you for it.
More extreme retaliation
Workers’ comp retaliation can take on much more severe forms as well. Your employer may end up harassing you and convincing coworkers to participate in this. You may feel like you’re being forced out of the company purely because you have asserted your legal rights. If you don’t leave of your own accord, you might even be fired.
Workers’ comp retaliation is unlawful and you should not let it put you off from asserting your rights as an employee. Don’t let your employer’s attitude deprive you of the benefits you need. Make sure you look into your legal options.
