| While many different types of workers have been sent home the past few months to stay safe during the pandemic, the essential workers have stayed on the front lines the entire time. Their jobs are risky, and they haven't had the backing that they deserve in most places. In almost every state, if you contract the virus, you must jump through several hoops to prove it happened on the job. Otherwise, you will not qualify for workers' comp. Debates over this are going on in Congress, but as of now, essential workers live in fear due to lack of protection while doing their job.
One nurse, Dori Harrington, got COVID-19 while taking care of patients at a nursing home who turned out to be infected. At first, her workers' comp claim was turned down for the reason that her illness was not “distinctively associated with, nor peculiar" to her job. She had to sit out from work for five weeks. While normal job-related injuries or misfortunes are easy to trace back to work, COVID-19 seems to be a bit of an issue. Even as an essential worker, it's hard to say where exactly you contracted the disease from. Was it at work? Was it while out shopping? Some people know more than others about their situation. A good amount of states have enacted certain policies to help lift the burden of workers, like Harrington, having to prove themselves. At the same time, it seems like a lot of states will also be pumping the brakes when it comes to expanding protection. This issue in general has cost a lot of money and time with lobbying, and it seems to be an issue that more dividing than it is compromising. While some workers gain their workers' comp and enjoy the benefits, others suffer through both the virus and the lack of relief. Click here to read the full article.
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