There is much debate about what rights, if any, undocumented immigrants should have in our country. Our current reality is that there are more than 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. In Ohio, immigrants make up about 6 percent of the workforce, with one percent of this group being undocumented.
While immigrant workers of all legal statuses contribute significantly to the state’s economy, providing benefits to those without proper authorization remains controversial. The debate often extends to the question of workers’ compensation coverage, which includes Cincinnati workplaces.
Legislative Challenges to Workers’ Comp Benefits
Some lawmakers have attempted to end workers’ comp coverage for employees without proper documentation. In 2017, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a two-year budget bill for workers’ compensation that cut funding for undocumented immigrants working in the state. However, this bill didn’t get past the Ohio Senate.
In 2019, the Ohio House amended the workers’ compensation budget to include the requirement that workers indicate their citizenship status on workers’ comp applications. The Senate omitted this amendment before passing the budget bill that year.
Immigration status among U.S. workers continues to be a divisive issue among lawmakers, employers, and citizens. Although workers’ comp currently covers employees without documentation, this could change in the coming years.
Implications of Denying Workers’ Comp Coverage
While cutting off reimbursement for workers’ comp in Cincinnati based on immigration status may sound like a good idea to some, it could have harmful implications. Such changes could put some employees in an increasingly vulnerable position.
Unscrupulous employers would be free to subject undocumented workers to unsafe working conditions and injuries with no worker’s compensation cost exposure. Furthermore, leaving these workers uncovered will incentivize employers to hire undocumented workers and give those workers the most dangerous jobs. Companies that are caught hiring undocumented immigrants typically face a fine, which they see as a cost of doing business.
Ensuring Fair Workers’ Comp Coverage for All
Including undocumented immigrants in workers’ comp coverage is a matter of fairness. If a worker, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, is deemed qualified to hold a job, they should have coverage if they get hurt or sick at work. At Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, LPA, Co., we’ll fight for your right to work injury compensation, regardless of your immigration status. If you’ve been injured on the job, contact us today to learn about your options and rights.