We just celebrated Labor Day, a celebration of the contributions the American worker has on our society, which is huge. What if you’re hurt on the job? Like a crocodile bites your leg off, or you get your eye poked out while securing crucial funds for your ship? Believe it or not, modern day workers compensation was born out of the old Pirate Code, payment for injuries received on the job. Today, workers compensation insurance is the safety net protecting today’s employees from the financial distress a workplace injury can cause.
All employers, except those with a gross annual payroll of $20,000 or less, or employers with specific agricultural exemptions, must provide workers compensation insurance for all employees. When an employee is injured working for an employer not lawfully insuring their workers, the State has additional safeguards in place. The Workers Compensation Program, administered by the Kansas Insurance Department, is a pool of funds intended to fill the role of workers compensation insurance when a worker is injured on the job and their employer has not lawfully purchased workers compensation insurance. So, heaven forbid you have to apply for workers comp, but if you do, thank a pirate.
