Firing the Injured Construction Worker

As every construction worker knows, serious injury not only results in temporary unemployment during medical care and convalescence but can also result in permanent unemployment as companies frequently fire injured employees. Workman’s compensation benefits pay for medical bills and a partial reimbursement of income during convalescent periods but pay nothing toward future lost earnings. Unemployment compensation benefits are also greatly limited. No one has documented the extent of this problem until recently. The Texas Research and Oversight Counsel on Workman’s Compensation has completed a study entitled “An Analysis of Workers Who Were Fired or Laid Off After a Worked-Related Injury.” Although this analysis is based upon the Texas experience, it is likely that construction workers in all states suffer similar fates.