{"id":353580,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:02","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/workers-compensation\/public-employees-and-workers-compensation.html"},"modified":"2023-12-28T15:54:46","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T20:54:46","slug":"public-employees-and-workers-compensation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/workers-compensation\/public-employees-and-workers-compensation.html","title":{"rendered":"Workers’ Compensation for Public Employees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Workers' Compensation for Public Employees<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Workers\u2019 compensation provides financial and medical support to public employees injured on the job. However, the rules vary depending on whether they work for federal, state, or local governments. Federal employees are covered under the Federal Employees\u2019 Compensation Act (FECA), while state and local workers follow state-specific laws or statutes.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you’re a public employee working for the government, you’re subject to separate\u00a0workers’ compensation\u00a0rules. Federal law governs federal employees. State or local employees are subject to the same state regulations as private workers or a special state statute<\/a>. Some occupations, like railroad workers and seamen, have separate regulations.<\/p>\n

The workers’ compensation system helps workers who get hurt on the job. It’s different for federal employees, special occupations, and state and local workers. But the goal is the same. It’s about supporting injured workers as they recover and ensuring they have financial help while they’re unable to work.<\/p>\n

This article explains how the workers’ compensation system helps different types of public employees. You’ll learn how workers’ comp rules apply to public federal, state, and local employees, and your rights to medical care, wage replacement, and other benefits after a work-related injury<\/p>\n

Experienced workers’ comp attorneys<\/a> in your state can also help if you have questions or need to file a claim.<\/p>\n

Federal Employees and Workers’ Compensation<\/h2>\n

Unique workers’ comp rules cover federal employees. If an injured employee working for the federal government has a workplace injury, the U.S. Department of Labor<\/a> (DOL) steps in to help. The injured worker can get medical treatment and disability benefits while they are unable to work.<\/p>\n

Federal employees have different programs for federal workers’ compensation\u00a0benefits. The\u00a0Federal Employee’s Compensation Act<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>(FECA) is an important relevant law. This Act allows recovery of benefits when a\u00a0federal employee\u00a0is either disabled or killed as a result of an injury or disease on the job. FECA is available to federal employees regardless of the time on the job or the type of position.<\/p>\n

Benefits include medical expenses and compensation for wage loss. Vocational rehabilitation services are also offered to partially disabled employees. The\u00a0Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs<\/a>\u00a0(OWCP) manages federal benefits. The benefits come out of the Employees’ Compensation Fund.<\/p>\n

There are special compensation payments for permanent total disability and permanent partial disability. If the work injury is severe and leads to death, the dependents of the worker can get death benefits. These concepts are the same across the country because of federal law.<\/p>\n

Special Occupations and Workers’ Compensation<\/h2>\n

Some jobs have special rules for workers’ compensation. For example, firefighters and police officers may have different benefits. Sometimes, an occupational disease or job-related health problem will have different rules. For example, a firefighter might get different benefits for lung problems.<\/p>\n

These special rules can include additional medical benefits. It can also include wage replacement based on their average weekly wage. Workers’ comp can also provide retraining if the injured worker can’t return to their previous job.<\/p>\n

Special types of employees may bring claims for federal workers’ compensation benefits. For example, the\u00a0Federal Employer’s Liability Act<\/a>\u00a0(FELA) gives special protections. FELA provides recovery for employees in interstate transportation, such as railroad workers.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Jones Act<\/a>\u00a0gives similar protections for seamen. The\u00a0Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act<\/a>\u00a0gives similar benefits to longshoremen. It also covers others engaged in maritime activities on navigable waters.<\/p>\n

Other laws that play a role in the compensation of employees include:<\/p>\n