Minnesota workers compensation laws were introduced in 1913. The occupational injury program in this state is regulated by the Department of Labor and Industry. As per this program, an employee must receive monetary compensation in case he or she gets injured at workplace. The benefits must be sufficient enough to cover not just the medical expenses but also any wage loss as applicable. It is very important to note that unlike the majority of other states, Minnesota does not provide any waiver to any of the employers working in this state. All employers are legally obligated to provide insurance coverage to all their employees, including the ones that are not even US citizens or are still minor.
The Legal Rights Of The Workers
As per Minnesota workers compensation laws, injured workers have the right to get compensated under the occupational injury insurance. The best thing in favor the employees is that they do not even have to prove that employer was at fault for the accident, injuries, or illnesses. If an occupation injury has occurred at the workplace or during a time while you were performing your job (even if it was a third place outside the office premises), you have the right to receive compensation from your employer. The employers do not have any option to avoid such compensation claims by trying to prove that the injuries occurred because of the fault of the employee. The employees also have the right to choose their own doctor for treatment of the injuries.
Types Of Benefits
There are provisions for four basic types of benefits under Minnesota workers compensation laws, which include benefits for rehabilitation services, medical costs related to the injury, loss of the use of a body part, and loss of wages.
Reporting Requirements For Employees
The laws have also specified certain responsibilities for the employees. If those responsibilities are not met properly, injured workers may lose their right to get compensated. Fr example, they must immediately report the incident to their employer within two weeks from the date of the injury. Failure to file this report with the employer within fourteen days will result in disqualification for occupational injury compensation. Besides that, it is also important that all information provided in the report must be accurate and complete in all sense. Injured workers must also receive a detailed report from the doctor. The report must contain the details of the injuries, such as ho sever it is and what kind of disability it has caused. A copy of this report must also be submitted to the employer.
Minnesota workers compensation laws provide the legal right to the employers to request the employees to go for an independent medical examination, which the employees must accept. This time, the physician is chosen by the occupation injury compensation insurance carrier. Failure to attend this examination also results in disqualification for compensation.