When you work for a federal agency established in Michigan, you want to know that in the event of a workplace injury, you are covered by workers’ compensation laws and able to seek recompense for losses, damages, and medical treatment. Yet considering that both the state and federal government have laws governing workers’ compensation, which takes precedence in the event of a federal employee’s injury? Are you covered by Michigan law, or federal law?
According to the Worker’s Compensation Agency under Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, your workers’ compensation claims would be covered under federal laws. Normally most Michigan employers are covered by Michigan’s state-specific workers’ compensation laws. However if you work for, example, the IRS at a local Michigan branch office, if you are injured on the job your workers’ compensation claims would be filed under federal laws governing IRS employees.
Many other classes of federal employees are also covered by federal workers’ compensation laws over state-specific laws. These include postal workers, railroad workers, members of the armed forces and VA workers. You may need to check with an employee representative at your federal agency to discover the exact processes for filing a claim, and what benefits you are eligible for under specific subsets of federal workers’ compensation law. Other classes of personnel also have special exemptions governed by their own laws, such as seamen operating under merchant marine laws.
This has been an informational blog post intended only for reference purposes. Please do not use it as a substitute for legal counsel.
