Worker’s Compensation

If an employee is injured while on the job, he or she is eligible for what is known as worker’s compensation. Worker’s compensation is insurance purchased for employees by the employer, which compensates them for time away from the job due to occupational diseases or injuries sustained while at work. Worker’s comp also covers the associated medical expenses and provides benefits to dependents of workers who have been killed on the job.

The Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs

This federal agency runs four different disability compensation programs that provide various services for individuals suffering from diseases or injuries acquired while on the job. Their services are only applicable to those holding government jobs, however. These agencies are the following:

• Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation: Provides workers’ compensation to federal and postal workers who have suffered an on-the-job injury or developed an occupational disease.
• Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation: Provides workers’ compensation to those employed by the Department of Energy (DOE) and all agencies that contract with them who have suffered illness or injury from radiation exposure.
• Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation: Takes steps to ensure that workers compensation is provided in a prompt manner to workers on open water who have sustained a work-related injury or occupational disease.
• Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation: Provides benefits to those who have developed black lung disease from working in mines.

Contact Us

If you would like more information on worker’s compensation, please contact the Austin business lawyers of Slater, Kennon, & Jameson, LLP today at 512-472-2431.