What are the workers’ compensation laws in North Carolina?

Residents of North Carolina have the right to file for workers’ compensation if they suffer injuries or illness on the job. The laws exist to protect both employees and employers.

What businesses are required to offer workers’ compensation?

In North Carolina, most businesses that have three or more employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees are legally entitled to file workers’ comp claims if they become injured or ill as a direct result of their jobs.

Certain workers are not covered by workers’ compensation. Farmworkers, domestic workers and federal workers are not covered.

What does workers’ compensation cover in North Carolina?

Employees who sustain on-the-job injuries or illnesses can file for workers’ compensation to recover benefits for a wide range of uses. Benefits can cover the following:

• Medical costs for treatment after an accident results in injuries
• Ongoing treatment for injury or illness
• Lost wages the employee would have otherwise earned from their regular job
• Time off work to recover from the injury or illness
• Disability if the employee is unable to return to work or must return in a limited capacity

What should an employee do after an injury or illness?

Employees who become injured or ill on the job should take immediate action and inform their employer of the situation via writing. Anyone who plans on filing for workers’ compensation after such an incident must send the written notice to their employer within 30 days of an accident or from the date they realized they suffered an injury or illness. It’s important to be diligent, or a claim could be denied.

Documenting everything is wise when you have to file a workers’ comp claim. It can give you a trail of evidence in case there are any questions about your claim.