Workers Compensation: Steps To Take When You Feel You’ve Been Wronged

A lot of things can go wrong in an office or organization. Most times, the members of staff fall victim to excesses from the management team. Often, this is unattended to, and when far stretched, a half baked apology is all you get. It is within your right to be treated fairly by an employer and your colleagues irrespective of your race, tribe and religion. Maltreatment at work could also be verbal boundaries, and it should be set. There should always be mutual respect. When one party fails to do that, you should seek redress as it is the right thing to do.

What Do I Do When Offended At Work?

Specific steps must be taken when you are offended, harassed or bullied. Although, you may not be entitled to worker’s comp benefits unless the abuse leads to physical injuries. You can, however, be able to file a harassment lawsuit. These steps are essential and straightforward to follow and always know in a situation where anything occurs. It only fits to have an insight and not be caught off guard. This is not just because you do not want to take action when offended but to prevent yourself from being the offender. However, in a situation where you are offended, these are the proper steps to take.

Register Your Displeasure

When someone at work offends you in any way, it is only right to confront them on the issue, presenting it politely, and it is very okay to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume they are ignorant of the fact they offended you. Calling them out on their bad behavior is a very vital step at fixing the situation at hand. Often the offender may be ignorant. Although that doesn’t permit bad behavior, registering your displeasure helps to clear the air.

Report To The Human Resource

After registering your displeasure and grievances with the offender and there is no iota of remorse, apology or repentance, you should report to the human resource officer for probing and immediate action against said person. Under no circumstances should an individual be rude, condescending and uncouth to a colleague. In a situation where this occurs, the human resource should swing into action and call the offender to order by sending out a query, demanding a proper apology, suspending the offender from work or withdrawing their appointment. It all depends on the nature and severity of the offence. Whichever way, the human resource officer should endeavor to be just and fair in their decisions on actions to be taken.

Get A Lawyer

Sometimes, reporting to the human resource officer is not enough as no action may be taken, or you feel more measures could be taken. It is very okay to feel that way. Your problems and grievances are very valid. In such a situation, employ the services of a lawyer who will professionally get you compensation for the justice you were denied at work and bring your offender to book. The different states have different rules that apply to them. For example, when you employ an Arizona workers’ compensation lawyer, this person will be in the best position to take the right step and process to get you justice and other compensation claims. The same applies to worker’s comp lawyers in other states. They are adequately trained to handle issues like this; it is easier to get compensated once legal steps have been taken. Compensation lawyers go through every high and low and nook and crannies to endeavor that justice is appropriately served.

Be Consistent in Your Reports

It is not uncommon for insurance companies to deny workers’ compensation claims when employee reports about how the accident occurred are inconsistent. This does not help your case if you tell your supervisor that the injury occurred one way, but your doctor or lawyer happened in another way. Be sure that all of your statements are consistent and coherent.

Be Diligent At Work

Often, when people feel offended at work, they become nonchalant and less dedicated to their duties and responsibilities. When this happens, you may end up nullifying or making your case in court more complicated. Except you are fired or on a suspension, you should be committed to doing your work correctly and at the right time. Avoid being unnecessarily late or acting uninterested.

Be Cautious

It is advisable to apply so much caution at work after reporting a case or offence. Although you are offended, proper research will be made on the issue at hand to solve it correctly and logically. However, when you are rude and absent, throwing caution to the wind and being ill-mannered makes it challenging to come to a logical conclusion, and you may end up being judged as the wrong person due to your attitude to work, clients and colleagues afterwards. In addition, it’s important to note that you can file a Workers’ Compensation Retaliation in the case of retaliation; you could experience further harassment after your complaints are made. Sometimes, such harassment comes from employers who have had to pay compensations or colleagues who were sanctioned.

Always remember that your feelings are incredibly valid and shouldn’t be disregarded at any point. It is also within your fundamental human right to be adequately treated. In a case where you are not, this is a reliable guide on what to do.