Find timely information about workers compensation in the United States that you can use to design a training workshop for your HR staff. Once you show HR professionals how to find the statutory bases of workers comp in the United States, they can move on to analyzing articles discussing these laws that are usually found on the websites of a state's leading workers compensation law firms.

Noteworthy sources for information about workers compensation in US States education and training program can be found as follows:

1. Use websites providing direct links to official sources of US state workers compensation laws.

2. Get practical advice and informative commentary about workers compensation in US states from the lawyers who practice in this field.

3. Sign up for seminars focusing on workers comp in US states.

Action Steps
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Educate yourself using federal workers compensation laws on government websites

Kick off your staff's HR training program with authoritative websites where they'll find the original federal statutes providing compensation to employees for work-related injury.

I recommend: The United States Department of Labor provides benefits to injured workers under four different programs. The workers compensation division of Oregon.gov has a premium rate ranking summary for workers comp benefits for the current year. Cornell University Law School will link you to the federal workers compensation laws. The human resources section of the Department of the Interior explains procedures supervisors must follow when employees are injured at work.

Read articles and practical advice from professionals regarding workers compensation in the US

A thorough workers compensation training program should not stop at finding the federal statutes. Encourage your HR staff to read instructive articles that workers compensation lawyers write which can deepen their understanding of these laws.

I recommend: Access free articles on the Workers Compensation Resources website to learn about changes made to workers comp laws. Lexis Nexis explains the administrative process for workers compensation lawsuits. Blogs like Florida Workers Compensation Law Blog keep you informed of proposed changes to the laws in different states. Attorneys writing on the Georgia Law Blog discuss what recourse employees may take when state law limits the amount they may recover against their employer.

Attend seminars on laws regarding workers compensation in US states

When you add events such as seminars and webinars to your training program, you're allowing employees to learn from professionals how they can interpret federal statutes and apply them in the human resources policy they follow daily.

I recommend: WorkCompSeminars.com offers a unique training portal that focuses on the inter-related topics of compensation policies, the injured employee and claims management. Check HR Resource for webinars on specific workers compensation topics. Compliance Online provides an online course that helps managers understand how they must respond to employee's excessive absenteeism.

US state workers' compensation is a requirement for most employers to carry regardless of the state you live in. Information about your responsibilities as a business owner to carry workers' comp in US states varies depending on location. Workers' compensation protects your employees in cases where on-the-job injuries and accidents impact their ability to work. Knowing the facts about workers' comp can also protect you and your business from unnecessary lawsuits and loss of business income.

Information about workers' compensation in US states is state specific. It is important that as the employer you comply with state regulations. Yes, workers' compensation can be expensive for your business to carry, but being sued by an employee for extravagant sums can be much worse and can quickly ruin a small, struggling business.

Here are some steps for keeping up with workers' comp in US states:

1. Determine your requirements for paying workers' compensation in US states.

2. Set up a workers' compensation plan for your company.

3. Inform employees of their responsibilities under workers' compensation laws.

4. Process any claims that occur.

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Find out if your business needs US state workers' compensation

Not all companies must offer workers' compensation. In situations where you own the company and employ no one else, you typically will not be required to have US state workers' compensation. Your industry and the number of employees in your company are also factors.

I recommend: Visit your state department of insurance to determine if workers compensation insurance is required or find specific requirements by state at WorkersCompensation.com.

Obtain an insurance quote for workers' compensation

Most states allow employees to purchase their workers' compensation insurance through private companies. A handful have state-operated plans and employees have to purchase plans from their policy.

I recommend: Receive a workers' compensation insurance quote online based on your business location to see all the options available. Use the workers' compensation buyers guide questionnaire from BusinessWeek to understand your business needs.

Educate employees on workplace safety standards to avoid workers' compensation claims.

By providing employee motivation and teaching workplace safety requirements, you can reduce on-the-job injuries and the chances of paying out workers' compensation benefits. Discuss information about workers' compensation in US states with employees to understand how injuries and large premiums could affect their jobs and income to discourage safety problems that cause accidents.

I recommend: View a sample workplace safety policy statement and workplace safety policy manual from Workplace Safety Toolkit to create your own documents.

Follow your state's workers' compensation laws to protect yourself

As the employer, you are required to file injury reports and pass on forms to your company's workers' compensation insurance. Stay professional as you handle the claim; allow the employee to see the doctor and when healed to return to work without facing prejudice.

I recommend: Use the CompYellow Pages to find a private investigator to confirm that your employee is truly injured. Protect yourself by following the Business Owner's Toolkit checklist for employees workers' compensation benefits.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Employees may be entitled to additional benefits for on-the-job injuries under two federal laws. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows an employee to take leave to take care of a family member, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects those with disabilities.

Workers' compensation exists to provide financial and medical assistance to employees that receive an injury on the job. Types of employment compensation may include the employee continuing to receive wages, reimbursement of medical bills, payment for economic loss due to injury and payment to the employee’s family should the injury result in death.

State workers' compensation laws protect state employees as well individuals working in the other sectors. Federal employees (and in some cases federal subcontractors) and certain occupations are under the United States Department of Labor Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation provides employees payment for injuries they receive on the job. When accepting workers' compensation, the employee surrenders his or her right to take their employer to court for negligence.

I recommend: Refer to WorkersCompensation.com for information on workers' compensation rules and statutes for your state.

National Council on Compensation Insurance

The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCII) is a resource for information on workers' compensation and state regulations. The NCCI also offer workshops and training that allows one to stay abreast of regulatory activities, studies and analysis pertaining to workers' compensation.

I recommend: Reference the National Council on Compensation Insurance website to learn more about the services they provide.

Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation

The Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation is responsible for providing compensation to eligible Department of Energy nuclear weapons workers, former employees, contractors, subcontractors and eligible surviving family members.

I recommend: Refer to the Employees Occupational Illness Compensation website for procedure manuals, bulletins and other relevant information.

Division of Federal Employees Compensation

The Division of Federal Employees Compensation is responsible for providing compensation to federal and postal workers for not only injuries received on the job, but occupational diseases as well. Federal and postal workers receive wage replacement, medical care reimbursement and assistance for any rehabilitation (medical and vocational) an individual may have to receive.

I recommend: For more information on Federal Employees Compensation, refer to the United States Department of the Interior Human Resources webpage.

Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation

The Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation provides employment injury and occupational disease protection to longshore, harbor and other maritime workers covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, the District of Columbia Workmen's Compensation Act, Defense Base Act, Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Act. This Division also ensures that the employee or surviving family members receive compensation benefits in a timely manner and provide guidance, support and dispute resolution to employees, their families, employers and insurance companies.

I recommend: Refer to Federal Grants Wire for more information on Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation.

Division of Coal Mine Workers Compensation

The Division of Coal Mine Workers Compensation oversees the Black Lung Benefits Act and works in conjunction with coal mine operators and insurers to ensure miners suffering from lung ailments associated with pneumoconiosis, miners disabled by pneumoconiosis from working in coal mines and families whose loved one's death was due to this disease receive reparations.

I recommend: Refer to GovBenefits.gov for more information on the Black Lung Act, benefits and other resources.