Workers’ Compensation in California

So what is workers’ compensation? Or what is workmen's compensation, as some people refer to it? And why does it exist? Under California law, the State requires that most employers have workers’ compensation insurance in case an employee gets injured on the job. In an effort to protect employers from being sued directly by an employee due to a work-related injury, the idea is that an injured worker will have the opportunity to be provided with some form of medical treatment—free of charge, and potential be eligible for temporary or permanent disability benefits. Other benefits that might be included can be a supplemental job displacement voucher to help re-train an injured worker (usually through a vocational school), and in certain situations, death benefits for family members who can be considered dependents of the deceased

worker.

When someone states what is workmens’ compensation? What they really mean to say is

what is workers’ compensation? In the 1970s, California updated the term workmens’

compensation to workers’ compensation, as an acknowledgement of the diversity in the

workforce. In this day and age, workmens’ compensation does not accurately reflect the reality that women have also participated in the workforce. Therefore, if someone asks you “what is workers’ compensation? Or what is workmens’ compensation? You can give them a short primer on what is workers’ compensation and what used to be workmens’ compensation.

If you got injured at work, need legal representation, and need a free consultation with an

attorney, feel free to contact our office at 323-219-5856, or email odir@odirhernandez.com.