Workers from California for the largest population of the US workers approximated at 14.7 million. The Workers Compensation Act mandates workers compensation. The program is one among some comprehensive State compensation programs and it is applicable to all employees. Under the Act, every employer is required to obtain an insurance care for workers compensation.
Coverage of the Injured
Under Article XIV, section of four of the Constitution the state has came up with the intention of its people to have a workers’ compensation Act. The legislature is responsible for enforcing any legal issue concerning workers compensation. These compensations cater for injuries and death regardless of any employee’s fault. The Article’s provisions give directives under which the employee reports and claims for compensations for work place reported injuries. Since the effectiveness of the Act workplace injuries and compensations issues in California been handled with little to no problems. However, troubles come in whenever there the employer and the employee are in disagreement. Doctors are in place to determine the extent of injuries of employees. This seeks to reduce misunderstanding between employees and their respective employers. The move assists workers to recover fully to losses encountered in the work place.
The Job Injury Insurance is also in the rescue to assist workers in terms of payment of medical bills. It further provides employees salary compensation for the days he or she is out of work. The Compensation Scheme only covers injuries related to work place.
Procedure of Laying a Claim
The injured employee is required to report the injury with the employer or senior worker available immediately. Then seek for medical attention. This is after filing all the employee’s and injury details. The employer is deemed to pay up to $10,000.
Benefits and benefits payment
The law provides three types of benefits. There is supplemental job displacement benefit. Granted to an employee who gets permanent disability, forcing him or her to be away from work for 60 days. The employees get between $ 4,000 and $ 10,000 depending on the degree of the disability or death. Another benefit is medical benefit. It caters employees with serious injury or illness. Finally, there is tax-free benefit, payment given to employee to replace the lost wages lost in temporary disabled. If the injury causes permanent injury additional payment is done.
Benefit payments
Temporary disability
The employees on temporary disability get this benefit. They get payments until the doctor declares him or her fit for work.
Permanent Disability
The employees with permanent injuries get this benefit. The payment also depends on age, type of injury, occupation and date of injury of the employee.
Death benefits
When the injury causes death then payments will benefit the dependents of the dead employee.
Medical care
The employee with injury get medical bill paid by his or her employer.
Government Agencies Affected by the workers compensation
1. California Department of industrial Relations
This government department structures into
I .Division of Occupational Safety and Health-is a department charged with supervision and health of workers in work place.
Ii. Division of workers ‘compensation-monitors worker’s compensation claims.
2. Employment Development Department
The agency provides information on of filing unemployment insurance claims, disability or paid family claim.
3. California Department of Insurance
It is responsible in overseeing insurance, regulations fostering, fostering, mandating and educating consumer’s right.
4. Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
Oversees the workers compensation system and settles disputes from the system.
Intergovernmental Issues facing the California Government Agencies
Reasons beyond regulation of prices. This has been a serious issue affecting the government.
Reference
California Employment Development Department (2013): Retrieved from http://www.edd.ca.gov
