How to Speak to Your Boss About Workers’ Compensation

03 Jun

Written by admin
Category
Worker's Compensation

In Florida, workers’ compensation is set up as a no-fault law. If you are ever injured in your workplace, your company takes on the responsibility of paying for medical treatment and lost wage benefits.

But, how do you go about speaking to your boss about an injury you suffered? Many may find it nerve-wracking to speak to management about workers’ compensation because an injury can be personal. As an employee, you may worry that your boss might not believe you or you may fear you’ll lose your job. And, an injury could mean being out of work for a while so you may fear loss of income. However, you are likely eligible for workers’ compensation for being injured while working. To receive workers’ compensation, you must report the injury within 30 days of the event. Speaking to your boss about any injuries that occurred while working is the first step before receiving compensation benefits, so how should you inform your supervisor?

1. Be upfront and honest

You always want to tell the truth, especially to your boss or supervisor. And when you tell your story, go into detail about what, when, and where your injury took place. The more you say, the better. A key point to remember when explaining to your boss your injury is that it took place in your workplace. You don’t want to lie or leave any information out. In addition, make sure to explain the task that you were performing when you got injured in-depth.

2. Leave no details out

When speaking to your boss about workers’ compensation, make sure to explain what injuries you suffered from in in-depth detail. Share what hurts, where you got a cut, or what bone you sprained. When explaining to your boss about your injuries, it is important to mention how this affects you and your work performance.

If you sustained more than one injury, make sure to include that when speaking to your boss. Failure to mention all injuries can result in no compensation. For example: if you mention to your boss that you injured your arm but failed to mention your back pain, the insurance company may deny any back treatment. It's important to clarify any specific pain that you are experiencing so that you receive the utmost care and coverage during your recovery.

3. Mention the order of events

After obtaining a work injury, attempt to report it as soon as you can. In your report, you want to mention what time you got injured, what day the accident took place, and where you got injured on your body. This detailed order of events clarifies exactly what you were doing at the time of your injury and confirms you did receive your injury while working.

4. Keep a personal record

Insufficient medical documentation is one of the top reasons why workers’ compensation claims get denied or delayed. When filing for workers’ compensation you can receive many benefits: medical care coverage, income payment for lost wages, and long-term disability benefits. And keeping personal records increases the chance of receiving the benefits you deserve. In this case, having medical records is important because it explains in detail everything about your injury and any issues that your doctors found. For your boss, ensure that you have organized and detailed records crucial in filing for workers’ compensation because without it there may be no proof.

5. Pick an ideal time to speak to your boss

Although explaining your injury to your boss is the most important part, you may not want to speak to your boss about your accident during a meeting or a time when he or she is not giving you the full attention you need. Ask your boss “What time works best for a private meeting?” This will allow your boss to take the time for you and hear your detailed report without any distractions.

When injured at your workplace, you have legal options. Reach out to us at carrillolawoffice@gmail.com today to see what solutions may be available to you.

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