Employees in different sectors of the economy need to familiarize themselves with local laws to ensure they know all their rights and obligations,usually with help from -. Since most workers are covered under the work comp system,every employee needs to understand what they are entitled to under the work comp laws as well as their obligations. If you live in Massachusetts,you need to learn about workers comp laws in Massachusetts. Read on to find out everything you need to know about work comp laws in the state.
Who Can be Covered
Under Massachusetts work comp laws,every employee must be covered by work comp insurance regardless of the number of hours they work per week. This means that every employer must sign up every employee they hire. However,there are some exceptions. For instance,domestic workers working less than 16 hours week may not be covered under the work comp system.
What is Covered
Under work comp laws in the state,workers who are injured while working for their employer as well as those who develop work-related emotional and mental disabilities can get work comp benefits. Workers comp provides coverage for medical and hospital services,prescription drugs and medically-necessary equipment,according to -. In addition to that,the injured worker is entitled to wage replacement for the entire period they will not be at work. Vocational and rehabilitation services are also covered by workers comp.
It is a legal requirement for employers to purchase work comp insurance with a state-licensed insurer. Failure to purchase this cover or failure to enroll employees to the cover can attract huge fines. For instance,employers operating without this cover can face jail time and criminal penalties. Civil fines are usually $250 per day for the entire period that the employer has been operating without work comp insurance. On the other hand,civil penalties can be as much as $1,500 and may come with a prison sentence of up to one year.