Do Seasonal Workers Get Workers’ Comp in Florida?
Halloween will be here soon, and with it, the official start of the holiday season. Employers of all sorts will start hiring seasonal workers to complete tasks that only need done for a short while, rather than year-round. For example, stores that sell Halloween merchandise and other spooky things are only open for about a month, so the workers are all seasonal.
This brings the question: “Do you seasonal workers get workers’ compensation?” For this blog, we will be focusing on seasonal workers in Florida – and the answer is yes. Seasonal workers in Florida do qualify for workers’ comp and its benefits. Workers’ compensation coverage begins on the date of hiring, too. If you are working a seasonal job this year, then you should be covered in most situations, as long as your injury was job-related.
Job-related injuries suffered by seasonal workers can include:
- Back injuries from lifting products
- Struck by falling object injuries
- Slip and fall injuries
- Injuries caused by violent customers
- Car accident injuries for seasonal drivers
- And more
When Workers’ Comp Might Not Apply
Your classification as a worker matters when it comes to getting workers’ compensation as a seasonal worker. If you are an employee, or if you are held to the same standards as an employee, then you should qualify for workers’ compensation, even if you are only working for your employer for a month or less. But if you are classified as an independent contractor or a subcontractor, then the situation can get cloudy.
Typically, independent contractors and subcontractors, including those hired seasonally, must carry their own workers’ compensation insurance. Employers are not legally obligated to place them under their policies. For example, if you were hired as a seasonal truck driver to complete additional routes during the holidays, then you might have been subcontracted, and your workers’ comp benefits might not exist unless you bought them.
If you aren’t sure if your seasonal work will qualify you for workers’ comp, then you should reach out to a local workers’ compensation attorney. You should especially seek help if you get hurt on the job while acting as a seasonal worker. Your employer might tell you that you don’t get workers’ comp, but this might not be the case. An investigation conducted by a Port Orange workers' compensation lawyer can help get to the bottom of it.
For legal assistance with a seasonal workers’ comp case in Florida, contact Van Dingenen Law now.
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