Accident At Work Scotland

Everyone is worried about job security. During times like this when companies are keen to make cutbacks and 'downsizing' is on the cards for almost every organisation, many people are too frightened to rock the boat, just in case their job is on the line. So if you have an accident at work and make a claim, can it damage your career?

The power of fear!

The idea that making a compensation claim against your employer for an injury suffered as a result of his or her negligence is a frightening prospect. Not only does the victim have the worry of not being able to work for some time due to the injury, but there is also the concern in the back of their mind that any legal action could lead to recriminations later on.

However, the truth is that very few people experience harassment at work or any kind of retribution after making a legitimate claim for compensation. Employers understand that there is a legal entitlement for employees to bring a compensation claim if an injury at work was the result of a lack of care on the part of the company. Consequently, victimisation is rare and under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) it is illegal to harass or bully an employee for any reason, including making a claim.

Some victims also feel that there is some kind of social stigma attached to making a claim against an employer and automatically assume that their colleagues will see them as an opportunist, out to make a 'fast buck' off the poor, cash strapped employer. Again, this is not the case. A genuine accident deserves genuine compensation, and most claims made for accidents at work are made by people who have suffered real pain and hardship as a result.

Who actually deals with your claim When you make a compensation claim against an employer, it is rarely the employer who actually foots the bill. Unless they have let their liability insurance lapse, it is the insurer who deals with the claim, not the employer. If there has been a clear case of negligence resulting in an injury, then the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) may take action against the company. But as far as the claim itself is concerned, it is often the case that the employer has no actual direct contact with your specialist solicitors at all.

Most victims who claim compensation for an accident at work find that their employers are, if anything, extremely supportive of their actions and genuinely concerned for their welfare. A preventable accident isn't a blot on the victim's character. It can act as a 'wake up call' to an employer and highlights a genuine problem that has resulted in a member of their organisation suffering an injury. By bringing a claim for compensation, the victim is actually helping the employer to improve their duty of care to all staff and preventing the same accident from happening to someone else.

Making a claim against an employer does not damage your career. It is designed to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for an injury that wasn't your fault. It also acts to put a spotlight on an unacceptable situation that the employer can then resolve and protect other workers from suffering the same fate. As long as that claim is righteous and justified, it can actually improve your working conditions and those of your colleagues on a day to day basis - something that every decent employer should be striving for anyway.