Workplace injuries once left employees without reliable support and employers open to lawsuits. Workers compensation provides medical benefits and wage replacement to employees injured on the job, in exchange for which the employee generally cannot sue the employer for those injuries.

Coverage is compulsory for most employers in nearly every jurisdiction. Benefits and eligibility rules are set by statute. Premiums are based on payroll by classification code and adjusted by the employer’s experience modification. Self-insurance is permitted for qualified large employers in many states.

Claims management focuses on prompt medical care, return-to-work programs, and control of long-term disability costs. Disputes over compensability and degree of disability are resolved through administrative systems rather than ordinary courts. The system remains a cornerstone of the employment relationship and of commercial insurance portfolios.

• Statutory benefits for work-related injuries
• Medical care and wage replacement
• Generally exclusive remedy against the employer
• Premium driven by payroll and experience