There is a common misconception that making a compensation claim for an accident at work will impact the business you work for, as the compensation will come directly from your employer. However, this isn’t the case. Employers are legally required to take out an insurance policy to protect their employees, and if an employee suffers an injury at work, it is the insurer that will compensate you - not your employer.
As experts in claiming compensation for individuals who have been involved in an accident at work through no fault of their own, we are dedicated to making sure employees are aware of their rights as any workplace injury can have a detrimental impact on a worker’s life. To understand whether there is a stigma around reporting accidents at work and making a compensation claim, we ran a survey to find out employees’ opinions on this issue.
One-quarter of injured workers do not report accidents
Results from the survey revealed that, of the respondents who had suffered an injury in the workplace, more than a quarter (28%) said they did not report it to their employer. When asked about the severity of the injuries they had sustained, 52% of respondents said their injury was either ‘very severe’, ‘severe’ or ‘moderate’. However, the survey data showed that 97% of those who had sustained an injury did not make a compensation claim.
Richard Powell, Head of Personal Injury, said: “It is worrying that the majority of employees who have sustained an injury did not claim compensation. With a lot of workers claiming to have had ‘severe’ and ‘very severe’ injuries, this could have a significant impact on their lives as they may have had to take time off work and pay for adaptations to their home.
“Furthermore, seeking compensation for injuries sustained through an accident that was caused by somebody else’s negligence gives injured parties access to the best medical treatment, rehabilitation and support, so they can make as full a recovery as possible.”
Why are workers reluctant to make claims?
The survey of more than 1,200 workers revealed that most employees (39%) would be worried about their job security if they reported an accident caused by their employer’s negligence, citing that they either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ with this statement.
Agree
27.11%
215
Neither agree or disagree
21.31%
169
Disagree
25.85%
205
Strongly disagree
14.00%
111
Workers also feel reluctant to make a claim for a workplace accident due to the financial implications for their employers, with more than a quarter (28%) either ‘strongly agreeing’ or ‘agreeing’ with this.
Strongly agree
5.80%
Agree
22.57%
Neither agree or disagree
23.83%
Disagree
29.00%
Strongly disagree
18.79%
In addition, one-fifth of survey respondents said they ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ that they would be viewed negatively by their employer if they reported an injury they had sustained in the workplace.
If you are thinking of making a claim for an accident at work, it’s important to remember that while your employer will be notified, your claim will be dealt with by your employer’s insurance company and/or solicitor. Any dialogue about the claim should be held between your employer’s insurer and your solicitor, allowing you to maintain an amicable relationship with your employer throughout the course of your claim.
The full survey results
Have you ever suffered an injury in your place of work?
Yes
22.08%
200
No
77.92%
706
How severe was the injury you sustained at work?
Very severe
3.50%
7
Severe
10.50%
21
Moderate
37.50%
75
Minor
48.50%
97
Did you report the incident to your employer?
Yes
68.00%
136
No
28.00%
56
I can't remember
4.00%
8
Why did you choose not to report the incident?
I believed my injury was too minor
41.82%
23
I do not know the process for reporting injuries
9.09%
5
I recovered from my injury quickly
7.27%
4
I thought it would affect the business financially
0.00%
0
It was too much hassle
10.91%
6
I thought I would be viewed negatively by my employer
18.18%
10
I thought I would be viewed negatively by my colleagues
0.00%
0
My employer told me not to
1.82%
1
Other
10.91%
6
Are you aware of your employer's accident reporting procedure for if an incident takes place?
Yes
69.99%
555
No
25.85%
205
My workplace does not have one
4.16%
33
To what extent do you agree with the following statement: "I would report the incident if I suffered an injury in the workplace."
Strongly agree
48.30%
383
Agree
35.18%
279
Neither agree or disagree
12.99%
103
Disagree
3.03%
24
Strongly disagree
0.50%
4
To what extent do you agree with the following statement: "I would be judged negatively by my employer if I reported an injury I had suffered in the workplace."
Strongly agree
5.80%
46
Agree
14.63%
116
Neither agree or disagree
24.97%
198
Disagree
32.28%
256
Strongly disagree
22.32%
177
To what extent do you agree with the following statement: "I would be judged negatively by my colleagues if I reported an injury I had suffered in the workplace."
Strongly agree
2.90%
23
Agree
11.60%
92
Neither agree or disagree
23.08%
183
Disagree
34.80%
276
Strongly disagree
27.62%
219
To what extent do you agree with the following statement: "I would make a compensation claim if I was injured at work due to the negligence of another party."