In most states, employers need to have workers’ compensation insurance. This program facilitates compensation for employees who get injured or fall ill while working for their employer. Whether you’re injured in the office or field, you’re entitled to workers’ comp benefits so long as your suffering or loss resulted from an on-the-job incident. However, as discussed below, you may miss out on some of the injury benefits you were originally entitled to or are currently enjoying once you quit your job while on workers’ compensation.
Key Workers’ Compensation Insurance Benefits
Are you wondering, “Does the workers’ comp pay if you leave a job?” The answer is yes, it does pay, but it depends on your particular situation. The standard workers’ comp benefits are:
- Lost wages– If you’re placed on light duty and earning less as a result, you may be compensated about two-thirds of your weekly wage.
- Medical expenses– These are the treatment costs incurred as a result of your injury, such as hospital bills, walking aids, drugs, etc.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD)– Workers that suffer a PPD are paid an end benefit.
When Quitting Isn’t Advisable
Quitting your current job while you only have a partial disability may result in the loss of wage replacement benefits. If you can, stay on the job unless you’ve suffered a permanent disability.
When You Can Quit
If it makes financial sense to get another job that is less tedious and more rewarding, you can consider quitting the current one. Your health and comfort are crucial here, so it may also be appropriate to leave your job if it’s unsafe. If you quit for personal safety, you might be able to keep your workers’ comp benefits, including medical cost and wage loss reimbursements.
Exceptions to Notification Time Limits
If you left your job before reporting your injury, it might be a lot harder to prove your claims and get compensated. You should be aware of your state’s statute of limitation for notifying your employer once you’re injured.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, sickness due to hazardous exposure may take a long time to manifest. That means it’s possible to become aware of on-the-job harm after quitting a job. Once you become aware, that’s when the notification clock begins to tick. So you may be eligible for compensation if you report certain workplace injuries even after the notification time limits have expired.
What to Do Before Quitting Your Job
To be on the safe side, always discuss your options and circumstances with your workers’ compensation attorney before quitting. An experienced lawyer is aware of the legal issues surrounding leaving a job after getting injured and pursuing workers’ compensation benefits. In some cases, you may have legitimate reasons to quit a job and shouldn’t be denied benefits for exercising your protected legal rights. For example, employees are usually allowed by law to quit a job due to discrimination. Similarly, you shouldn’t be fired for filing a claim and cannot lose workers’ comp benefits after illegal firing.
Workers’ compensation insurance does pay if you leave your job. However, this isn’t always the case, so you need to carefully evaluate your personal situation before you resign or switch employers while on workers’ comp. For any questions about workers’ comp policies and benefits, contact the experts at RMS Insurance Brokerage, LLC today. We provide high-quality, customized insurance solutions for businesses and individuals.