Pennsylvania first passed a workers’ compensation law in 1915, although there have been many amendments over the years. Today, workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy for an injured employee against his or her employer or co-employee. Essentially, Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation laws provide a system of insurance to the employee, at the employer’s expense, for job-related injuries, including disability and death. Under this system, the worker receives “coverage” for medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault. In return, the employer is shielded from civil tort liability for injuries that occur on-the-job. In this way, workers’ compensation laws protect the interests of both employees and employers.
This topic outlines the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, which provides the framework for the worker’s compensation system in Pennsylvania.
Nearly every person working in Pennsylvania is covered by the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act. Employers must provide workers’ compensation (WC) coverage for all of their employees, including seasonal and part-time workers. Non-profit corporations, unincorporated businesses, and even employers with only one employee, must comply with the Act’s requirements.
In Pennsylvania, an employer may be...
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