People of all ages and backgrounds need to maintain gainful employment. Their careers allow them to support themselves and their family members. Unfortunately, some workers end up injured while on the job in a way that interferes with their future earning potential.
Professionals in almost any sector can sustain significant, possibly career-ending injuries at work. They may require medical care to manage their symptoms. They may lose wages that they need to cover basic expenses. Citizens and immigrants with documentation may take for granted that they are eligible for workers’ compensation coverage if they get hurt on the job.
What protections do undocumented workers have if they sustain injuries on the clock or develop a medical condition caused by their employment?
Legal status does not affect basic protections
Workers’ compensation actually provides much more thorough protection for employed individuals than people might initially realize. Workers’ compensation coverage applies to part-time workers and professionals on their very first day of work at a new position.
It also provides protection for a direct-hire employee who may not have the necessary legal documentation to work in the United States. Illinois, like a majority of other states, allows undocumented workers to receive workers’ compensation benefits for any medical conditions directly caused by their employment.
Professionals have the right to report their injuries to their employers and to request both medical benefits and disability coverage if they become unable to work due to their on-the-job injuries. Undocumented immigrants should not have to worry about losing their jobs or facing any other form of retaliation for reporting injuries, requesting benefits or seeking accommodations so that they can return to work.
Of course, undocumented immigrants are in an innately more vulnerable position than those with legal status in the United States. Therefore, they may choose to retain legal representation as a way of learning about their rights and avoiding violations of those rights.
Reporting an injury to supervisors and seeking appropriate medical care can help undocumented employees as they pursue workers’ compensation benefits. Professionals with the right support can generally access benefits and minimize their risks, regardless of their immigration status.