Accident At Work Claim: Employees Must Exercise Their Rights

At a time when many countries are struggling to come out of the economic slowdown and have initiated job cuts as well as pay cuts, it would seem a bit farfetched to talk about employee rights. However, it is a fact that not many employees are aware of even some of their basic privileges and one of them pertains to how they should go about dealing with an accident at work claim with their employer should something unfortunate take place.

There are good and there are indifferent employers. The good companies following good human resource practices take the initiative to explain all rights and duties to the employees as part of an induction program. There is no need for the employee to pick up information about their rights from co-workers or from any other source within the company as everything is neatly documented in the form of a manual. The indifferent companies do not follow such norms and take it as it comes, often leaving the employees unsure about the steps the employer has taken towards their welfare when at work and that is where many of them lose out on what is their rightful due.

Employers are supposed to provide a working environment that is healthy and safe. There are norms laid down that they should be following regarding employee safety, the precautions they should be taking to prevent accidents and the immediate first aid they should be able to organise should any employee meet with an accident at work. However, it has been observed that while most companies are pretty careful about following the rules for their workmen engaged at the factory or workshop, white collar workers often are neglected on the assumption that serious accidents will not take place in a corporate office.

Since accidents can happen at any time and can take a heavy toll of the employees physical, mental and monetary resources, it is mandatory for companies to have adequate insurance coverage for the employee as well as for the company as well. After all, a severe injury occurring to an employee at work does entitle him or her to file a claim for compensation. This can include medical bills, hospitalisation charges, consultation fees of the doctor, any loss of income due to absence from the job and even mental trauma. If the company is not adequately protected against such claims through adequate insurance, it can find itself in deep trouble settling such claims not to mention the loss of credibility arising out of such an incident, which can affect its brand image.

Employees on their part must be aware that they have the right to make such accident at work claims should something unfortunate occur to them while they are on duty and need not feel embarrassed or anxious about the repercussions once they resume duty. It is their fundamental right as an employee working for an organisation and it is the duty of the company to ensure that the interests of its employees are well protected.