Last year, workplace injuries affected thousands of employees and cost U.S. companies more than $110 billion. Chances are, your firm will eventually have to deal with a workplace injury ? which means that you will also have to deal with a workers? compensation claim.

Think of workers? comp as a legal compromise: in return for compensating employees who require medical treatment or who miss work due to a workplace injury, employers avoid potentially costly lawsuits. Workers? compensation also protects employees who might not be able to support themselves or their families because of a work-related injury.

Who Qualifies for Benefits?
Workers? compensation laws rely on a "no fault" rule that provides benefits regardless of who is responsible for a workplace injury. There are exceptions, however, for employees who hurt themselves due to reckless behavior or drug or alcohol abuse. In addition, employees who cause self-inflicted injuries, or injure themselves while off-duty or while engaged in a criminal act, usually do not qualify for benefits. State laws vary as to what kinds of activities are "covered" under workers' compensation.