Sustaining an injury at work can have a devastating effect on your life, including your finances. An accident could put you out of work for weeks, months or even permanently. When you can no longer do the job you’re trained for, you can end up struggling for money as your income is drastically reduced. Although your employer must provide you with sick pay and give you time off, there can be other costs involved if you have to miss work because of an injury. For any advice, queries or worries related to an accident at work that you may have, it is important to get in touch with personal injury experts that can point you in the right direction. It’s your employer’s job to keep your safe at work and, if you do hurt yourself, it’s important to follow the correct steps.
Reporting and Recording Injuries
Whenever someone gets hurt at your workplace, the incident needs to be recorded in your employer’s “accident book”. After you’ve received first aid from the trained member of staff, someone should record the accident. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a small cut or a broken bone; the records are useful for both employees and employers. Any employee who wishes to make an injury claim for an accident can use the log as evidence later. It’s also useful for managers, to help them improve their health and safety procedures.
Sick Pay
If you need time off work, your employer must allow you adequate leave to recover. They are also required to give you statutory sick pay. This starts on the fourth day that you’re away from work and is 88.45 a week for up to 28 weeks. To qualify you need to be classed as an employee, and you must earn at least 112 a week before you take time off. Most people will only get SSP, but some employers will also provide contractual sick pay too, so make sure you check your employment contract.
Making a Claim
If you think that it might be your employer’s fault that you had an injury at work, you might want to make a claim against them. Gaining compensation for your accident can help to cover the cost of taking time off work and other expenses, such as therapy. If you want to claim, you have to do it within three years of the accident. You’ll need a lawyer to represent you in the case, either by hiring an injury at work lawyer or talking to your trade union. Your lawyer must be insured to cover a successful claim and should provide you with the details of their insurance company.
Returning to Work
Returning to work after you’ve had an accident or injury can be challenging. You might be feeling less confident than you were before and worried about your performance. When you return, you might have to attend a meeting with your supervisors or superiors to discuss your reintegration. A good boss will help you settle back in and give you the support you need to get your work-life back to normal. However, it may be the case that your injury is severe enough to mean you are unable to return to work. If this is the case, it is a good idea to look into getting some long-term disability insurance quotes to ensure that you aren’t struggling financially if you are at home for a significant period of time.
Having an accident at work isn’t a pleasant experience, but you can get through it. Both you and your employer need to follow the correct procedure to make sure everything goes smoothly.