Every job comes with certain risks. Employees can get hurt at work, leading to medical expenses and an inability to continue working. Workers’ compensation protects direct-hire employees from job-related medical conditions.
Private employers in Georgia generally carry coverage that indemnifies the organization from liability when a worker gets hurt or falls ill due to their job. Injured or sickened professionals may be eligible for medical coverage and disability benefits, depending on the circumstances.
Many professionals seeking workers’ compensation benefits are full-time, permanent employees. They recognize that they have protection under the law. Other workers may have less secure employment arrangements. Do part-time, temporary or seasonal workers also have the option of filing a workers’ compensation claim after an injury on the job?
Most direct-hire workers are eligible
The specific details of an employee’s job do not necessarily determine their eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. It does not matter whether the company considers the worker full-time or part-time. Both permanent and temporary workers have the same eligibility under state regulations.
The only real detail about a worker’s employment arrangement that affects their eligibility is the size of the company that employs them. Under state rules, any business with three or more employees, even if they are all part-time employees, has an obligation to carry workers’ compensation coverage.
The duration of the worker’s employment and the number of hours they work have no bearing on their overall eligibility or on the workers’ compensation benefits that they could receive. The same benefit guidelines apply on the first day of an employee’s new job with a company as after decades of continual employment with the same company.
The employee may be eligible for full medical coverage for necessary treatment costs. They could also receive disability benefits to offset their lost wages. Disability benefits vary depending on the wages of the worker, the extent of their medical limitations and the duration of their medical condition.
Workers concerned that their employers might challenge their claims and those uncertain of how to comply with state law when seeking workers’ compensation benefits may require guidance. Hiring a workers’ compensation attorney can make it easier for employees to understand their legal protections and to focus on their recovery, rather than on paperwork.
