If I Have a Second Job, Will Workers Comp pay for That Too?
Making ends meet isn’t easy, especially with today’s cost of living. Things haven’t been easy after the pandemic either.
So it’s not surprising to learn through the U.S. Census that about 13 million Americans have two or more jobs.
That’s the only way most people live life and can save enough for vacations and retirement. But at the same time, it makes Americans wonder if a second job can affect your workers’ comp case.
If you, too, are looking for answers, you may just find it here.
Do Multiple Jobs Affect Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Yes.
Your second job can indeed affect your workers’ comp benefits.
If you have two jobs and can’t work both positions, you receive workers’ compensation payments based on both jobs’ incomes.
However, the problem arises when you have a second job and can continue working it after the accident.
In this case, it reduces your workers’ compensation amount.
Workers’ Compensation for Concurrent Employment
The legal term for having two jobs is concurrent employment. You deserve compensation for lost wages if injured, no matter how many jobs you have.
It’s your employer where you got hurt who makes payments through their insurance company. But your second job income also affects the amount you receive.
But the law considers your second job, based on these two circumstances.
- Your workplace injury should be so bad that you can’t work both jobs at all.
- You may be able to work the second job even though you can’t work the job that got you injured. In this case, you can work in some capacity even after the injury.
Do Your Research
It’s better to do some research if you work a second job.
If you work as an independent contractor, you need to ascertain if you have the right insurance to qualify for workers’ compensation.
Sometimes your employer may wrongly categorize you as an independent contractor when you are an employee. You need to rectify this because you qualify for workers’ compensation as an employee.
What Happens If You Can’t Work Both Jobs?
If you get injured and can’t work both jobs, then the second job affects your compensation. It’s because the average of your earnings for the time worked till the injury or illness decides your workers’ comp.
Both jobs are included in determining your payment.
But both jobs should offer either a workers’ compensation insurance policy or self-insurance for workers’ compensation.
What Happens If You Can Work Your Second Job?
If you get hurt at work but can continue working your second job, its income changes your workers’ compensation amount.
You will have to tell the employer where you got hurt about your second job and provide accurate earnings information.
It’s because your second job earnings reduce your workers’ compensation.
However, remember that you still can pursue workers’ compensation.
Though reduced, you at least receive some amount. It’s a great relief when injured because you can use it to pay your bills and provide for your everyday expenses.
Your workers’ compensation lawyer in Burbank can help
In short, your second job does affect your workers’ compensation case. It may increase your benefits if you can’t work both jobs. Or it may reduce your compensation amount if you can still work your second job.
That’s why you need to disclose to your employer that you have a second job if you get injured at work. You also need to disclose your second job’s earnings.
As you will be focusing on recovering from the injuries, hiring a Burbank workers’ compensation attorney to handle your case helps. They will clearly explain your case and the amount you receive if you get injured at work, and have two jobs.