Can I get fired for making a Work Comp Claim in Missouri?
This is one of the most common questions I receive.
No. You cannot be fired or discriminated against for receiving workers’ comp benefits or making workers’ comp claims.
If you would like more information about the Missouri Work Comp process, please request my FREE ebook report Understanding Your Missouri Workers Compensation Case.
(Don’t worry I won’t sell or give your email to anyone)
However this does not mean you can’t be fired for something else.
You must not give your Employer another reason to terminate you. For example if the doctor puts you on light duty and sends you back to work, you must go.
This brings me to big mistake I see injured workers make.
They give their Employer a reason to fire them after they have been released to light duty. They miss work or are late. While you can’t be fired for making the WC claim you can be fired for other reasons. DON’T GIVE THEM ONE! Don’t be late. Make sure you have reliable transportation to work. Don’t be surely.
Now, if they are exceeding your light duty restrictions report that in writing or better yet, call your lawyer. (This is another reason why you should get a lawyer early on in the process).
If you are released to light duty, your boss can make you come in and stare at the wall or count paper clips. They may try to make you quit, but your have to report to work.
Some of this is very subtle. The Employer might put more extra pressure on you to force mistakes. They suddenly become very picky about your work.
They may wait for you to make a mistake and write you up, when they would have overlooked this mistake in the past.
Many Employers automatically investigate (and watch) Employees who have filed comp claims, looking for reasons to fire the Employee. Don’t give them a reason to fire you.
This is a good reason to have a lawyer early in the process to discourage this practice. A work injury can be traumatic. If you or a loved one is injured on the job Missouri Work Comp laws can provide you the money and medical care you and your family deserve. The Krebs Law Firm LLC helps injured workers get the medical attention and financial compensation that they need. Please contact us for a free consultation if you have any questions about Missouri Work Comp.
Some Employers will try to pressure you for any variety of reasons not to make a claim. They may try to claim that their work comp premium rates will rise or that you are being a “bad employee”. The thing that you must consider is what is best for you and your family in a decision that you must make. Hopefully this report can ease some of your concerns and allow you to make the choice that you feel is right.
A work injury can be traumatic. If you or a loved one is injured on the job Missouri Work Comp laws can provide you the money and medical care you and your family deserve. The Krebs Law Firm LLC helps injured workers get the medical attention and financial compensation that they need. Please contact us for a free consultation if you have any questions about Missouri Work Comp.
If you would like to speak to me simply call (417) 883-5886 for your free case evaluation and consultation today.
If location is a concern for you, I personally handle Workers Comp cases all across Missouri.