Under the Workers Compensation Act 1987 illnesses caused through a work environment may be considered a workers compensation claim. SIRA has therefore confirmed the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease related illnesses may be considered valid claims. Employers are also able to reprocess premiums if their wages drop more than 30%.
Workers compensation laws vary by state, but workplace illnesses like COVID-19 may be claims, assessed case by case.
Factors considered include, yet are not limited to:
- work related travel to an area with a known viral outbreak
- work related activities that include engagement or interaction with people who have contracted the virus
Where as part of their employment, an employee or employees are potentially exposed to coronavirus, the employer is required to provider assistance and guidance to the employee in helping them make a workers compensation claim.
It should be also noted, that SIRA is expecting NSW workers compensation insurers (icare, Statecover Mutual, HEM, CMI, etc) to maintain business continuity in providing support to policy holders, injured workers and other key stakeholders during the duration of the pandemic.
If COVID-19 impacts your business and wages drop 30%+, icare may adjust workers’ compensation premiums to ease cash flow.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact our team to discuss.
For further information:
Source: SIRA
Title: SIRA prepares for impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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