Workmen's Compensation Laws in Massachusetts
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts sets the laws on workers' compensation.state house massachusetts image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
Workers' compensation (often called workmen's comp) is a form of insurance that provides workers injured on the job financial benefits, medical care and rehabilitation services. In exchange, workers and their families agree not to sue the employer for pain and suffering as a result of the workplace accident. The Massachusetts Department of industrial Accidents administers the Commonwealth's workers' compensation system. - Massachusetts requires employers to provide workers' compensation insurance for their full-time employees--even employers with just a single employee. Employers can elect to provide coverage for seasonal, casual and part-time employees. Coverage must start on the first day of employment.
- In 1991, in reaction to threats from Massachusetts employers over high insurance premium payments, the Commonwealth reduced the total disability benefit rate to 60 percent and partial disability benefit to 10 percent of the injured worker's wage. The worker also receives compensation for medical bills as a result of treatment for an injury. Workers can now collect total disability benefits for up to three years and partial benefits for five years. The 1991 law changes also eliminated some injury benefits, such as those for scarring due to a workplace accident, except when on the face, neck or hands.
- After an injured worker files a claim, Massachusetts law imposes a five-day waiting period before the claim is paid. But the employee is allowed to claim retroactive workers' comp benefits for those days if the injury results in an inability to work and persists for 21 or more calendar days.
- Massachusetts law permits employees to select the physician to receive medical services from in the event of injury.
