Responsibilities of Your Employer After You Suffer a Work-related Injury or Illness

According to the law, Illinois employers have several responsibilities after an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness. These responsibilities include providing appropriate and necessary first aid and medical services, maintaining records of the work injury or sickness, reporting the injury or sickness to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier, responding promptly to requests for additional information, and avoiding prohibited actions such as retaliating against an employee for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Below is a more in-depth look at these responsibilities.

Providing Appropriate and Necessary First Aid and Medical Services

The first thing your employer is required to do after you suffer a work-related injury or illness is to render appropriate and necessary first aid and medical services. First aid can save your life and prevent a minor injury from becoming major.

Maintaining a Record of the Work Injury or Illness

After suffering an injury or illness while at work, you must report the injury or illness to your employer. In Illinois, you have forty-five days to report your work injury or sickness to your employer. If an injury or illness has occurred over time, you must notify your employer no more than forty-five days after you become aware of it. After you report your work injury or illness to your employer, your employer is required to maintain a record of your report. Generally, if a work-related injury or illness causes you to miss at least three days of work, your employer must keep a record of your injury or illness.

Reporting the Injury or Illness to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Carrier

After informing your employer of your work-related injury or illness, your employer is obligated to contact their workers’ compensation insurance carrier as soon as possible. Even if your employer disagrees with your claim or wants to dispute it, they must report your injury or illness to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

If your injury or illness causes you to miss at least three days of work, your employer is also required to file Form 45, Employer’s First Report of Injury, with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Responding Promptly to Requests for Additional Information

After your workers’ compensation claim is filed and you reach out to your employer with questions or information requests, your employer is required to prioritize responses to your questions or requests. The workers’ compensation claims process is time sensitive, so your employer is required to avoid delays.

Avoiding Prohibited Actions

Finally, your employer must avoid prohibited actions after you suffer a work injury or illness and file a workers’ compensation claim. Your employer is barred from retaliating against you or discriminating against you after you file a workers’ compensation claim. Examples of retaliatory actions include a decrease in pay and termination. Also, your employer is not allowed to take action that could hinder your ability to return to work.

Contact a Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer at Connolly Injury Law can help you if you’ve suffered a work-related injury or illness in Illinois. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.