If you are injured working part-time, you may wonder if you can claim workers’ compensation benefits.
Ohio makes workers’ compensation insurance obligatory for almost all employers. It covers part-time employees as well as full-time ones, although the amount you can claim will be reduced in relation to the hours you work.
Part-time workers are more at risk of injury than full-timers
Any given job comes with specific hazards. A full-time worker may have better preparation to deal with these dangers:
- Employers may give full-time employees more training: There is no excuse for not training all staff, yet if you only work part-time, you might not be in on the days training takes place. While your boss should make alternative arrangements, they might not bother.
- You may be more tired than full-time workers: Some people dream of working part-time. Your reality may be less glamorous. You might work a part-time job on top of your regular job because you need more money. Or you may string together a bunch of part-time jobs because you cannot find full-time work. In both cases, it can be tiring, involving extra hours and travel time.
- You may have less experience than full-timers: Let’s say you work weekends as a landscaper. Those who work Monday to Friday gain five days experience a week learning how to safely use key equipment. You only gain two. It gives them a better base to assess hazards and avoid injury.
Being covered by workers’ compensation insurance does not mean you will automatically receive what you need. Understanding how to present your application will be crucial to getting the total amount you are entitled to.