Dylan Delhart: Many businesses unable to pay workmen’s compensation insurance

It is the law that all businesses with employees must carry Workmen’s Compensation Insurance. However, there is no government entity policing this. There is supposed to be, but there is not. We have hundreds of small businesses struggling to pay the outrageous workers comp fees (California’s are 35 percent to 60 percent higher than other states), when there are hundreds who are not. Those that are paying premiums, are doing so out of fear of being fined or imprisoned.

I recently was attacked at my job. I informed my employer, and she told me to go to my doctor and bring her the bill. When I told my doctor I was hit at work, he said he couldn’t treat me and to go to the workers comp doctor. I told my employer this and she said she didn’t have workers comp, and fired me. I called the Department of Industrial Relations and they sent me a packet to fill out which would reimburse my medical bills, but I still am unable to see a doctor.

Our state seems to only care about threatening small business owners into paying premiums, and not about the wellness of injured workers. So why are any businesses paying for it?

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Dylan Delhart: Many businesses unable to pay workmen’s compensation insurance."