Just one third of Australians who suffer a job-related injury receive workers compensation, with a major law firm saying it has noted a surge in employers trying to dodge the claims.
Shine Lawyers said it has seen a rise in clients whose employers have discouraged them from seeking help after suffering workplace injuries, hoping to shirk their Work Cover obligations.
“Saying, ‘You don’t need to do that, we’ll look after you’,” Shine Lawyers’ Lisa Flynn said.
“And then sometimes the time limits for bringing a claim expire and workers find themselves without the support of anyone.
“We also see the other side, where there’s actual threats by the employers.”
Father-of-two Nathan Champion was in the driver’s seat when the back tyre of his truck slipped into soft dirt and the vehicle teetered off a mountain near Caboolture.
Onlookers were powerless to stop the truck from tumbling down the cliff face with Champion inside.
“I made a decision to stay in the driver’s seat and keep my seatbelt on,” he said.
While the 37-year-old was lucky to walk away without serious injuries, his employer had him back at work the next day.
“I had a bit of an anxiety attack and I had to get out of the truck. At that point I knew that this was going to be a long road ahead,” he said.
By the time Champion realised he needed more support, he’d missed the claims period for workers compensation.
Shine Lawyers has launched its “blow their cover” campaign to uncover dodgy bosses.
Workers can report their experiences online and employers with multiple complaints will be referred to the regulator for investigation.
