When you get hurt on the job, your first instinct might be to just continue working. Bandaging your own wound or trying to work through the pain may seem like the responsible thing to do because the company depends on you.
There are numerous issues with this approach to a workplace injury. It is almost always in a worker’s best interest to report an injury on the job to their employer or manager on duty as soon as possible.
Reporting can help you get workers’ compensation benefits
If you will need medical treatment for your injuries or an extended leave of absence while you recover, workers’ compensation can help you. However, waiting too long to report your injury to your employer could affect your right to benefits. Georgia requires that workers report accidents and injuries within 30 days or run the risk of losing their right to benefits.
Reporting means you can ask for a little support
Whether you cut yourself or suffered a soft tissue injury, it may be hard to do your job after you get hurt. Employers have an obligation to comply with reasonable accommodation requests made by workers with disabling medical conditions. It will be easier to assert your rights when your employer knows the condition is the result of a workplace injury.
Timely medical care can improve your prognosis
Trying to work through the pain might mean that you do worse damage to yourself if you have a broken bone, repetitive motion injury or soft tissue injury. The sooner you receive the care, the lower the likelihood that your injuries will have a permanent impact on your work.
Taking the right steps after you are injured at work can help you get workers’ compensation benefits and protect your employment status.