If your teen has a part-time job or maybe works during their summer and holiday breaks, you likely hadn’t given any thought to workers’ compensation until they were injured. Your teen may not even know what workers’ comp is.
Most New Jersey employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. What many parents don’t realize is that this covers employees who are minors, even if they’re working part-time or on a seasonal or temporary basis. The only exceptions would be if they’re working as volunteers or unpaid interns.
Teen injuries in the workplace are not uncommon. They sometimes are less cautious than older workers are – often because they’re simply eager to please their co-workers and bosses. It’s important to know, however, that even if an injury is the fault of a worker, that typically doesn’t prevent them from getting workers’ comp (with some exceptions, like being under the influence or if “horseplay” is involved).
Workers’ comp if an employer is violating child labor laws
New Jersey has strict regulations around how many hours younger teens can work and what kinds of jobs they can do. If an employer is violating child labor laws, that doesn’t prevent a young worker from getting workers’ comp if they’re injured. In fact, they may be eligible for additional benefits if they weren’t legally employed.
Don’t let your teen be misled by false information
Sadly, some employers count on young employees not knowing their rights. Some employers don’t even fully understand workers’ comp regulations.
They may tell them they’re not eligible for workers’ comp due to age, number of hours worked, legality of employment or fault for their injury. They may also tell them they could lose their job or have their hours cut if they file a claim. Any kind of retaliation for filing a valid workers’ comp claim is illegal.
If your teen has suffered a work-related injury or illness and is having difficulty applying for or obtaining workers’ comp benefits, you may want to consider getting legal guidance. This can help protect your child’s rights so that they get the benefits to which they’re entitled.
