When you are injured on the job, or suddenly become ill, you may
become worried about missing work. If you only work part-time or have to
take off for an extended time, it is understandable to have such
concerns. You may think that if you do not work, you will not get paid,
or that if you are out for too long you may lose your job. However, you
may qualify for either workers' compensation or various forms of
disability. There are a number of factors that allow you to do so, and
some of those factors are covered below.
Workers' Compensation
If
sidelined by an injury or an illness that happened on the job, you may
qualify for workers' compensation. This is payment for any time missed
at work due to being hurt or sick. To receive payment, you must be an
employee, and your injury or sickness must be work-related. In addition,
some states may require the company to have insurance for workers
compensation. However, the laws vary from state to state.
Disability
An
employee may also qualify for disability, either short- or long-term.
The primary difference between this and workers' compensation is that
the former covers injuries that happen outside of work or are not
related to the job. Short-term typically covers up to two weeks, while
long-term could stretch over a number of months.
With disability,
an employee is often required to work with a company for a specific
amount of time, as a fulltime worker. In addition, the payout is often a
percentage of what he or she normally makes, typically a minimum of
50%. After the short-term period ends, if you are still considered
unable to work, you may qualify for long-term disability, which is up to
a city or state employment board.
Sick Leave
If your injury
or illness is more temporary, there is always the option of taking sick
leave. These are days allocated to usually fulltime employees who
suddenly become ill or involved in an accident. For new employees, it
could be anywhere from 3-5 days, with more accruing as they progress
within the company.
Part-timers normally have to take off at their
own risk, since they do not normally get paid leave. Therefore, when
they call out sick, they do so with the consequence of receiving a
lesser paycheck.
The rules and regulations may vary, so when
taking a new job or if you face an upcoming medical procedure, you may
want to consult with your human resources director.
