South Florida Personal Injury Blog

Unfortunately, during tight economic times, the workplace environment can undergo major changes, says Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer Andrew Alitowski. There may be layoffs, which can cause emotional strain at work for several reasons. Employees become concerned that they, too, will be next on the chopping block, and empathize with their friends and colleagues who did not survive the recession at their place of employment. Nonetheless, employees and workers of all stripes continue to have rights that employers are required by law to honor.

One of these issues is overtime pay, says Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer Andrew Alitowski. Unfortunately, many employers avoid paying the additional wages for extra hours, even though the pay is required by law for many workers. In the case of some businesses, especially small mom-and-pop type operations, it may even be by accident. However, ignorance of the law is not a defense for failing to pay the overtime wages due to a worker. Further, the withholding of the funds may be a deliberate attempt by an employer to boost earnings. Willful violation of the law is extremely problematic.

Worker's compensation is also important. Any time a worker is injured on the job, he or she should be checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. In most cases, the employer will be required to pay for the worker's medical care, ongoing treatment, and even medication and physical therapy. Workers should insist upon being taken to a doctor as soon as the injury occurs or the symptoms manifest. Unfortunately, the employer or its insurance company may be interested in your prior medical records if you are injured on the job. For example, if you have previously been treated for a back injury, they will think that is relevant to a current back or neck problem that was caused by your work. An injured worker should obtain his own attorney if he or she must deal with a team of the insurance company's lawyers, says Broward injury lawyer Alitowski. The sad reality is that the insurance company's best interest is to make sure that the worker does not get his or her medical care covered so that they make more money.

Since unemployment and other economic problems are ongoing, many employees are reluctant to press the issues of overtime compensation and worker's compensation for fear that they will lose their jobs. However, employers are required to cover these costs in most cases. Consult Fort Lauderdale accident lawyer Andrew Alitowski if you believe you are due overtime wages or worker's compensation benefits.