What primary protection do employees receive from workers' compensation laws?

Workers' compensation laws provide no-fault benefits for work-related injuries, which means that employees are entitled to receive medical and wage loss benefits without needing to prove fault on the part of their employer. This system is designed to ensure that injured workers have access to necessary medical treatment and income support while also protecting employers from lawsuits for workplace injuries.

The no-fault aspect allows employees to receive benefits quickly and efficiently. In a no-fault system, the focus shifts to the injury and its impact on the employee rather than on the circumstances that led to the injury. This principle is fundamental to the workers' compensation model, ensuring that all employees are covered for legitimate work-related injuries.

While full compensation for lost wages sounds appealing, workers’ compensation typically provides a percentage of an employee's wages, not the total amount. Additionally, the right to choose any doctor is often limited by the workers' compensation system, which may require that treatment is done through designated medical providers. Lastly, job security after an injury is not guaranteed under workers' compensation laws, as employers can make decisions regarding employment status that do not necessarily involve the injury itself. Thus, the focus remains on the no-fault benefits offered under the laws.