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5 Key Liabilities Every Employer Should Know
As an employer of labor, you are responsible for the safety of your employees from when they clock in till when they clock out.
This responsibility extends to work done outside your business premises.
Intimating yourself with this knowledge and understanding which liabilities you bear concerning your employees is vital to running a business without hassles.
This article discusses some of those liabilities, providing valuable insights to help you better manage your workforce.
Employer Liability Towards Employee Injury
Employees who suffer injury at work can file personal injury claims from their boss because of the statutes that confer duty of care to their employees during work hours. Employers can also pay double compensation to an injured employee if the business manufactures the machinery or tool that caused the accident.
Rideshare companies are not exempted because most jurisdictions consider drivers as their employees in most jurisdictions. According to a rideshare accident lawyer, “Determining liability in a rideshare accident can be difficult because of the number of parties involved”.
Since the driver has to check their rideshare app for fares and destinations, it can cause a distraction, which might lead to an accident. In such a case, the company might be held liable. Other factors such as driver’s negligence, distraction by another passenger, another motorist, or pedestrians may also cause an accident.
Employees who get injured working outside their work offices on the instruction of their employers are also liable to personal injury compensation. Family members of employees who suffer injury within business grounds also constitute a case for personal injury claims.
Employers hedge against these by signing up for an employer’s liability insurance scheme that transfers the burden of paying off the claims to an insurance company.
Preventative measures like regular safety checks are much better, however. Getting a lawyer in your corner is equally important to help with some frivolous claims.
Employer Liability Toward Employee Stress
Many in the labor force face stress at their jobs. Work is not fun and games, after all. Unfortunately, many employers ignore the stressful conditions under which their employees work. It may be a lack of knowledge about their duties as employers or just negligence, but the law is clear. Employers must actively seek ways to reduce employee stress at work.
Employees who know about this law have claimed millions in compensation with proof of stressful working conditions that led to them developing post-traumatic stress. As an employer, providing a safe, accident-free working environment is not enough. Providing a conducive working environment is equally important.
Employer Liability Toward Employees Developing Illnesses
Sometimes, employees develop illnesses from work. This is common in the manufacturing industry.
Loud equipment can lead to hearing loss for employees. Poor air quality in factories can lead to legionnaires disease and even asthma. Employees in hospitals and biological labs can contract viral diseases, too. There are a lot of illnesses that employees can get from their jobs.
As stated earlier, employers must ensure that their work premises are safe for employees and that ignorance/negligence is no excuse While demonstrating genuine concern, employers can also offer health insurance. Although it is not obligatory, it ensures that the health of the staff is important to the company.
Employer Liability Toward Hiring
Outside securing your business premises, the most important thing to you as an employer should be the quality of your employees.
Giving someone with zero experience in your industry a job is good for the world. However, it may not be great for your business.
That employee may not do great work and could affect other people’s work. Worse still, they could cause an accident or incident at the office. Employees can come together to sue the employer for hiring that person, costing the business thousands in compensation.
As an employer, think carefully before hiring anybody.
Employer Liability Towards Workplace Harassment
Harassment in the workplace is an unfortunately prevalent thing. While employees can take legal action against the harasser, the employer is also liable, especially if they disregarded or downplayed previous reports of harassment. Not only will they pay employer liability compensation to the aggrieved employee, but they will also face federal charges.
Harassment of employees while carrying out assigned duties outside of work premises can also lead to employer liability compensations. Hence, employers must invest in the security of their employees in cases like this.
In conclusion, the employer’s liability puts the responsibility for the safety of all who pass through your business premises in your hands. You are automatically assumed guilty until proven innocent in employer liability cases.
Understanding the full extent of the employer liability laws can prevent you from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous employees.
The most important thing, however, is to put the necessary checks and balances in place to prevent any accidents, harassment, or impediment to an employee’s work during official working hours.
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