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New York Times: Workers Comp Fails Low Wage Workers

In a feature written by the New York Time, journalist Steven Greenhouse investigates how low-wage workers are treated here in the United States. A new study that surveyed workers in the largest cities in America, including New York City, finds that low-wage workers are often left behind. Not only are low-wage workers often paid less than minimum wage, the study found, but they are often not compensated for overtime hours and suffer from other wage-law violations.

Most importantly, and most surprisingly, the study discovered that low-wage workers are less likely to receive workers' compensation due to pressure from their managers not to file claims. In fact, the study, which reached out to 4,387 workers in various low-wage industries, found that only eight percent of workers seriously injured while on the job file for the workers' compensation benefits that they need and deserve. While others are receiving financial compensation for lost wages and medical bills, the vast majority of low-wage workers are taking the financial blow, either by paying out of their own pocket or by using their health insurance. Only six percent of those surveyed had work injuries paid for by workers' compensation. In many cases, the workers' managers and bosses pressure the worker not to file for workers' comp - an act which is illegal.

Although many knew that illegal immigrant workers suffered from a number of similar injustices, the study found that all low-wage workers, including native-born Americans and legal immigrants, are in danger of being victims of wage-law violations and unfair workers' comp treatment.

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