Public employees are those who work for a government agency, whether at the federal, state, or local level. This includes people who work in civil service jobs for the Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, those who hold public office, bureaucrats, and many more. All public employees are paid directly by the government.
Some employees in the public sector are at higher risk of injury than others. Police officers, firefighters and correction officers have inherently more dangerous jobs; but park rangers, postal workers, and sanitation workers also have risks associated with their professions and suffer injuries at a rate higher than average.
Depending on the job, public employees can experience injuries such as:
Those public employees working in more traditional office environments are still subject to a range of work injuries that include slip and falls, repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and respiratory diseases.
Government workers generally have a separate set of regulations for Workers’ Compensation. There are different programs available depending on whether you are employed at the federal, state, or local level. Certain professions such as longshoremen and railroad workers have their own set of regulations.
Working with an experienced Workers’ Compensation attorney can ensure your claim goes to the appropriate agency responsible for providing your benefits.
Federal workers who are disabled or killed as the result of an injury or disease sustained while on the job have access to benefits under the Federal Employee’s Compensation Act (FECA). FECA provides medical benefits, wage loss compensation, and vocational rehabilitation services. Surviving dependents of a worker who suffers a fatality are entitled to compensation and payment towards burial expenses. All federal employees, no matter their position or length of service, are eligible for FECA.
Benefits for employees of state and local governments are governed by state workers’ compensation statutes and the human resources department of their county or city. Many states prohibit Workers’ Compensation benefits for state officials and also have specific provisions for police officers, firefighters, and sanitation workers.
Several occupations have federal acts that cover their Workers’ Compensation benefits including:
The range of benefit programs available to injured public employees is vastly different from the standard Workers’ Compensation claims. To avoid any delay in receiving your benefits it is highly advisable to seek the counsel of a Workers’ Compensation lawyer experienced in dealing with these specialized programs.
If you are a public employee seeking compensation for injuries sustained at work, the skilled Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation lawyers of Gross & Kenny, LLP can help. We will make sure you receive all the benefits you are entitled to under federal, state, or local regulations and advocate on your behalf so that you can concentrate on your recovery. Call 267-589-0090 today or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation in our Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office. We serve injured public employees throughout the state.