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Are Public Employees Covered by Workers Compensation?

On Behalf of | Mar 30, 2022 | Workers' Compensation |

A public employee works for a state college or university. Federal employees have separate workers’ comp regulations and are under federal law. Local and state public employees are under state law in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. Some public employees have different regulations, such as railroad workers and seamen.

Workers comp for federal employees

Federal employees have different programs for workers’ comp. An injured federal employee receives benefits from the Federal Employees Compensation Act. The type of work and length of the job changes nothing. The act’s benefits include lost wages and medical expenses. Vocational benefits from the Employees Compensation Fund are available for injured federal employees. Other acts manage benefits for specialized federal employees. The Longshore Harbor and Workers Compensation Act works with the Jones Act for maritime employment. The Defense Base Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the High Seas Act protect federal employees working outside the country.

Local and state employees

Specific workers comp statutes determine what state and local employee benefits are. A mandatory workers’ comp poster hangs in state workplaces. The poster outlines coverage available and a phone number for questions. A public employee can ask their employer for details. The human resources and legal departments have workers’ comp information as well. Most state statutes don’t allow state officials to receive workers’ comp. Police officers, firefighters and sanitation workers may have different regulations.

Public workers workers’ comp claims

Employers can disagree about the extent of a disability in public employee claims. Workers’ comp may run smoothly or have issues. An attorney is best if an employer denies workers’ comp. Some common issues are evidence of happening at work or filing a claim too late. An employer can request an employee to have their doctor check injuries. A workers’ comp doctor may underestimate the injury, and an employer can deny needed surgery. An attorney can help with the uphill battle of the claim.

A serious injury can affect the future work of a public employee. It’s not a good idea to fight workers’ comp alone. A person should maximize the benefits a public employee’s job offers. The structure of the benefits should create future protection. Public employees have workers’ comp, but some jobs have separate or extra regulations.

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