Retaliation for filing a workers’ comp claim is illegal

The federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has good news and bad news for American workers. First, the good news: there was a decline in workplace injuries last year. The not-so-good news is that there were still nearly 3 million on-the-job injuries to American workers.

The BLS said last month there were about 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in private industry last year. That means there were about 2.9 injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time equivalent employees. Overall, there were about 1,000 fewer injuries and illnesses reported per week over the course of 2016 than there were the year before.

A recent media article stated that despite the improvement, “the figures are still staggering.” Even worse, the publication states, is the fact that many workers are reluctant to report injuries for fear of reprisals in the workplace, including being fired. Other injured workers might fear a demotion or poor performance review because they have been hurt on the job.

Just to be clear, it is against the law for a North Carolina employer to fire you because you have been injured on the job or because you have filed a workers’ compensation claim.

You can contact a Charlotte work comp lawyer if you have suffered retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim:

• Demotion
• Termination
• Reduced hours
• Reduced pay
• Negative performance review
• Forced to take unpaid time off

Contact the employment law attorneys of Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler to discuss ways in which you, your family, and your rights and workers’ comp benefits can be protected.