There are over 8.1 million illegal workers in the United States. Although they are here illegally, these workers are necessary to the workforce. The Perryman Group prepared an in-depth study on illegal immigrants and the effects they have on the US workforce.

Highlights of the  findings include:

• The latest census data indicates that 1 of every 8 people living in the US is an immigrant, and approximately one-third of those immigrants are undocumented.
• Undocumented immigrants comprise a large component of the workforce in some industries and geographic areas.
• In 10 states, the percentage of undocumented workers as a share of the workforce equals or exceeds the national average of 5%. Arizona has the highest proportion with 12%.

The Perryman Group also measured the damage the loss of the undocumented workforce would do to the economy. The immediate negative effect of eliminating the undocumented workforce would include an estimated $1.757 trillion in annual lost spending, $651.511 billion in annual lost output, and 8.1 million lost jobs.

The study clearly shows that undocumented workers are needed to keep the US economy running, so there is no good reason they should not be entitled to the same protection under workers’ compensation as legal, documented workers.

A rich study of the illegal workforce’s economic impact | Working Immigrants

Keep the following in mind when you have a work related injury.

Step 1

Report your injury.

When you know you have a work-related injury, report the injury to your employer. And always ask to fill out an incident report. If your employer does not provide you with one, you can get a first report of injury form from the DOLI website (PDF).

While you do not have to fill out a first report of injury (FROI) or incident report, you do have to put your employer on notice of your injury.

In cases of repetitive injuries, you must report the injury as soon as you should reasonably recognize the nature and seriousness of the injury. Sometimes, you may not recognize this until sometime after the injury.

But you do have to give your employer notice so that they have an opportunity to furnish immediate medical attention in the hope of minimizing the seriousness of the injury.

Step 2

Get treatment.

Make sure to seek medical treatment. The longer you wait to get treatment, the more likely the employer and insurer will deny your claim.

Step 3

Hire a lawyer.

A qualified and experienced lawyer can fight for your entitlement to benefits. Even if an employer and insurer are paying your benefits, there may be additional benefits you may be entitled to.

Moreover, the employer and insurer may not be looking out for your best interests but instead trying to figure out whether they can limit their exposure. Consequently, you may need a lawyer who is knowledgeable in workers’ compensation and will be able to assist in making sure you receive proper and fair representation.

The Workers’ Compensaiton Court of Appeals decided a series of cases in the month of September dealing with Gillette injuries.

Dillon v. Pennco Construction

In Dillon, the WCCA upheld the trial court’s decision that the employee sustained a Gillette-type injury on a certain date.  The main issue in the case was whether there was an “ascertainable event” to form the basis for a disability during his employment.  The employer and insurer argued that since the employee did not miss anytime from work during his employment because of his claimed injury there was no ascertainable event to find a date of injury. The WCCA disagreed.

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Due to advancements in technology and improvements in medical treatment, Americans are living longer and staying healthy longer then ever before. And many are working longer, as well. The US Department of Labor reports that from 1977 to 2007, employment of workers over the age of 65 increased 101%.

People past the “retirement age” are staying at their jobs longer or starting second careers. Some cannot afford to retire. Others enjoy the social or intellectual elements of the workplace.

The workforce is aging. The US Department of Labor reports that from 2006-2016, workers age 55-64 will climb by 36.5%. But the most dramatic growth should be for the two oldest groups. Workers 65to 74 and 75+ may soar by more than 80%.

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