The number of people employed in nonfarm jobs edged down by 95,000 in September, although the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Our Atlanta work injury lawyers are as anxious as everyone else for the economic rebound that has been hiding just out of view for the last year. With the unemployment rate sitting stubbornly at twice its historical average, employees face a number of challenges when it comes to dealing with the risk or reality of a Georgia work accident. For starters, employees are left to do more with less. Another recent read by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that productivity was at its highest rate in more than a decade when compared to available workforce and capital investments. After several years of attrition, downsizing and layoffs, existing employees in today’s labor force face more pressure to produce than at anytime in recent history. High productivity and low staffing, especially when combined with the threat of job loss, can increase the risk of serious or fatal on-the-job injuries.
Additionally, some of the first employees often let go are those working in auxiliary, non-revenue-producing positions, including workplace safety staff. In good times, management doesn’t mind spending on the “extras.” When times grow lean, suddenly employees are lucky to have jobs and work-safety personnel are an expendable perk.
And speaking of being luck to have jobs: The current work environment can make employees hesitant to report a work injury, which can be the most dangerous consequence of all. Not reporting a work accident can leave you ineligible for Georgia workers’ compensation benefits or other compensation in the event that the injury becomes worse weeks or even months or years after the fact.
The law protects workers from retaliation as a result of filing a work injury claim. Ironically, that means an injured worker who properly files a claim may enjoy more protection and job security, not less. While failing to file a claim can have devastating consequences when it comes to the financial well-being of you and your family.
If you have been injured in an Atlanta work accident or an on-the-job accident elsewhere in Georgia, the Atlanta work accident lawyers at the Law Offices of J. Franklin Burns, P.C., offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights, call 678-298-0323.
