Employers often impose a vesting period when a new employee starts a job. They are not eligible for paid leave, health insurance and other benefits until they prove that they can competently manage their employment responsibilities.
Vesting periods can leave people uninsured or reliant on expensive continued coverage from a former job temporarily when they accept a position with a new employer. They can also leave professionals unsure about their rights if they get hurt at work.
Employees injured on the job may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits instead of using their health insurance. How soon after starting a new job can an employee qualify for workers’ compensation benefits after an incident at work?
Coverage begins on day one
Professionals can get hurt the very first day they start a new job. A lack of familiarity with company protocols or specialized equipment might actually increase their risk of getting hurt while they are still training.
Thankfully, there is no vesting period for workers’ compensation coverage. Employers generally have an obligation to carry coverage if they have even a single employee, although they can potentially defer acquiring coverage if they have fewer than three workers.
Every worker at a company with current coverage is potentially eligible for benefits for any injuries incurred while performing job tasks or medical conditions they develop due to their employment. Brand-new employees who just started their jobs have the same basic coverage and benefits as workers who have been with the company for years.
New hires recovering from on-the-job incidents may feel anxious about reporting what happened and filing a claim for benefits. Discussing their situation with a workers’ compensation attorney can help injured employees follow the right procedures to claim benefits and protect their new jobs regardless.