If you are working more than one job and have been injured at one of them, you may be wondering how workers compensation benefits will be calculated.
You may understand that if you get injured or sick while performing your duties, you can receive workers’ compensation to help you pay for your medical bills and regular expenses.
When you work two jobs simultaneously, it’s legally known as concurrent employment. This can affect the compensation you would receive if you get injured on the job and are eligible for workers’ compensation.
Let’s find out more about the legal aspects of this scenario.
Workers’ Compensation
The workers’ comp system is designed to compensate lost wages and cover medical bills of workers who get injured or develop conditions directly due to their working conditions or during their work scope.
When an employee is injured, they should report the incident to their employer in writing and file a workers’ comp within the accepted period. If eligible, they will receive weekly payments or a lump sum covering part of their lost income and their medical bills.
What Happens If You Have a Second Job or Multiple Jobs?
Having a second job would surely make you wonder how workers’ compensation will be calculated. Many people get a second job to provide for their families. For these people, there are two main scenarios when it comes to workers’ comp.
- They are not able to perform any of the jobs.
- They are still able to work for at least one of the jobs.
You Are Not Able to Work at Either Job
If you cannot work any of your jobs because of the injuries you got from working one of them, your compensation payments will be calculated, taking both incomes into account. However, both positions generally need to be with employers who carry workers’ comp insurance, or you must make sure you are self-insured for the jobs that don’t come with that coverage.
The payments will typically be made by the employer where you got injured.
You Are Still Able to Work for the Second Job
If the nature of your second job allows you to work even after you’ve been injured at the first job, this will impact the amount you get as compensation for the first job. However, it is still in your best interests to pursue compensation, as it can be a tremendous financial relief during the recovery time.
Hire a Lawyer to Help with All the Legal Intricacies
If you have two or more jobs and get hurt while performing work duties for one of your employers, you need to report it to them, tell them about your other job(s) and file for workers’ compensation.
An experienced St. Louis workers compensation attorney can guide you along the way and help you get the compensation you are legally entitled to.