Speaking up is an American principal, that all people deserve dignity when facing injustice. Whether you are in the country legally or not shouldn’t affect your right to compensation, especially if something goes wrong and you end up in the hospital or injured for life while doing a job for someone.
Workers’ compensation rules vary from state to state, but in New York all workers are eligible for the program regardless of documentation. The law exists so employers won’t take advantage of you.
It is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you
There are risks and threats each day, but missing out on fair compensation that citizens receive shouldn’t be one of them. If you’re injured at work, the law is here to protect you. It’s illegal for an employer to strike back at you for filing a claim.
Workers’ compensation won’t just help by paying the medical bills. It also pays for time missed from work. For severe and long-lasting conditions, it will pay into the future as you seek a new career.
Still on the fence? Consider the future
Not filing a workers’ compensation claim can hurt you for the rest of your life. Your injuries today will make it harder to do your current job both now and later. Returning to work too soon because you need the money can be a huge mistake. You may not heal properly and improper treatment can cause chronic injuries that make it harder to earn a better life for yourself.
Filing does come with a risk that you’ll be exposed for misrepresenting your status but, by law, you’ll still receive payment for your injuries even if you lose your current job. There are matters more important than a job, and those include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — which are hard to achieve when you’re slowed by an untreated injury.