There are many different kinds of work available for ambitious individuals in Kentucky. For example, the holiday season often results in many seasonal employment opportunities in the retail sector. People can also sometimes take on a part-time job to earn a little extra money before the holidays.
Working part-time or only for one season at a certain company is sometimes a beneficial arrangement. However, it can leave people with a lot of questions about their rights as an employee. For example, a seasonal worker in Kentucky might end up getting hurt on the clock. They might miss work and may require medical care.
Can those with seasonal or part-time employment rely on workers’ compensation benefits to help cover their expenses for job-related health concerns?
Yes, direct employees generally have coverage
Kentucky has very specific rules for workers’ compensation coverage for employers. With the exception of self-employed individuals or independent contractors, organizations typically need to provide coverage for all of their staff members. A seasonal or part-time employee should have the same access to benefits as a permanent, full-time worker, as long as they are not classified as an independent contractor. It does not matter how many hours someone puts in at a company or how long they have worked there. What matters is the cause of their injury or medical condition.
Provided that someone gets hurt on the clock or a doctor diagnoses them with a job-related health condition, they can typically qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. The main impact that being a part-time worker might have on someone’s workers’ compensation coverage would be that they likely receive less disability benefits because they earn less than full-time workers. Still, they may be able to receive up to two-thirds of their average weekly wages for as long as they would have remained employed and they are unable to return to their work. Their benefits can also compensate them if injuries from a second part-time job prevent them from working at their main job.
Companies don’t always provide thorough and accurate information about the workers’ comp benefits available to seasonal or part-time workers. Learning about the rules that protect those employed seasonally or less than 40 hours a week may benefit someone who is employed in this way and is worried about their protection after getting hurt on the job.