{"id":47570,"date":"2016-03-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skolnicklaw.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/companies-push-to-opt-out-from-workers-compensation\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T09:57:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T14:57:30","slug":"companies-push-to-opt-out-from-workers-compensation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skolnicklaw.com\/companies-push-to-opt-out-from-workers-compensation\/","title":{"rendered":"Companies push to opt out from workers\u2019 compensation"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you get hurt on the job, workers\u2019 compensation is supposed to provide the resources you need to pay your medical bills and other expenses associated with the injury. But now some large companies are pushing for legislation that would allow them to opt out of the workers\u2019 compensation system entirely. According to an article in ProPublica, Walmart and Lowe\u2019s are leading the charge, claiming that their own independent injury compensation systems provide better outcomes for injured workers while reducing costs and red tape for employers.<\/p>\n

So far Oklahoma and Texas are the only states that allow employers to opt out of traditional workers\u2019 compensation systems. And there is doubt over whether the systems these private companies put into place to replace workers\u2019 compensation would help or hurt workers. The U.S. Department of Labor is investigating whether the opt-out plans in Texas and Oklahoma<\/a> violate federal workers\u2019 rights.<\/p>\n

Already there are several ways in which the opt-out programs make it more difficult for workers to secure compensation for injuries, for example, by:<\/p>\n