Workplace violence is an unfortunate reality in some industries. Thankfully, when employees are harmed due to violent acts, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. Whether the harm at issue is physical or psychological, workers’ compensation provides a pathway to recover lost wages, medical expenses and other narrowly-tailored related costs.
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, the harm caused by violence must be related to the course of the injury victim’s employment. This generally means the incident must happen:
- While performing job duties
- On the employer’s premises or during work-related activities, such as business travel or events
For example, workers may be eligible for benefits if violence arises from:
- Customer, client or patient interactions
- Co-worker conflicts
- Employer negligence, as a failure to provide a safe work environment may result in injuries from preventable violent incidents
Generally speaking, if harm occurs as a result of violence, and that violence is related to an employee’s work-related circumstances, the victim of that violence is likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia.
Exclusions from coverage
With all of that said, workers’ compensation typically excludes injuries resulting from personal disputes unrelated to employment. For example, if a personal conflict outside of work spills over into the workplace, benefits may not apply unless it can be demonstrated that the employer’s environment contributed to the incident at issue.
Additionally, those responsible for workplace violence are generally not eligible for workers’ comp benefits if they get hurt as the violence that they instigated plays out.
Ultimately, f you’ve been harmed by workplace violence, it’s generally wise to seek personalized legal guidance regarding your eligibility for benefits. Workplace violence is serious, and you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone.