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Dealing with employees who do not properly report injuries

On Behalf of | Oct 6, 2017 | Workers' Compensation

As an employer, you work hard to create a good work environment for your employees and subcontractors, but there’s only so much that you can do. Especially in certain types of work, an idea still persists on the workforce that one should not stop working for most minor injuries and even some moderate or severe injuries.

If you operate a business with a traditionally tough workforce, overcoming the culture of “keep working, no matter what happens” can prove quite difficult. Unfortunately, many employees simply do not understand the seriousness of their own injuries or the limitations placed on them if they do not properly report the injury and seek medical attention.

In some cases, this costs the employee dearly. An employee may suffer an injury on the job but simply ignore it. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that in some industries, injuries are underreported by at least 30 percent.

This can cause major issues for both employees and employers. An employee who does not properly report his or her injury may forfeit proper benefits under workers’ compensation. This places employers in a difficult position — either compensate an employee for breaking the rules and putting the company in an undesirable position or stand by the guidelines set out by workers’ compensation.

If you find your company facing the consequences of improperly reported injuries, be sure to seek out the legal counsel necessary to navigate this matter. As an employer, it is difficult to always know how to respond when an employee does not properly report an injury on the job. Make sure that you have proper legal counsel to help protect your interests and settle the matter fairly.

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