Tampa Professional Worker Injury Lawyer
To respond to fluctuations in supply and demand, Florida employers are often forced to scale up or down in terms of personnel. At the same time, they must comply with their legal obligation to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage for a constantly changing employment and labor environment. One strategy companies use to meet modern needs is to use a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), but this situation creates additional legal challenges for injured employees seeking to enforce their rights under workers’ compensation laws.
Our Tampa workers’ compensation lawyers at Barbas Nuñez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian are well-versed in the usage of PEOs for purposes of workers’ compensation compliance. We understand the complexities because our lawyers have more than 65 years of combined experience helping injured workers obtain the benefits they are legally entitled to recover by law. We tackle tough workers’ compensation issues for victims in Hillsborough County and throughout the Tampa Bay region, so please contact our office at 813-279-2686 to schedule a free appointment regarding your circumstances. Some important information on PEOs and employer organizations may also be useful.
Professional Employer Organizations in Florida Workers’ Compensation Claims
A PEO is essentially a third-party company to which your employer may outsource certain administrative tasks regarding employment laws. Companies are using PEOs more often to handle such matters as human resources, benefits, payroll, tax, workers’ compensation, and others.
Legally, the arrangement between your employer and the PEO may mean that you are actually employed by the PEO; your services are leased back to your employer, who pays the PEO for your efforts. This aspect of the business relationship is termed employee “leasing.”
Employee Leasing and Workers’ Compensation Coverage
For purposes of workers’ comp, your coverage and benefits are likely paid through the PEO instead of directly through your employer. The PEO is the entity that must comply with Florida’s laws requiring employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their workers. Therefore, if you are injured on the job, there are certain considerations you should understand:
- As always, your first priority is getting proper medical treatment;
- You should report your injury to your employer and the PEO;
- Your claim will officially be filed under the PEO’s workers’ compensation insurance policy;
- You still have the same rights to receive workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expenses, disability, and lost wages;
- You maintain your right to file a civil personal injury lawsuit if the PEO does not carry insurance; and,
- It is even more critical to retain an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to help you navigate the process, especially considering the involvement of the PEO as employer
Consult with a Tampa Lawyer About PEOs and Employee Leasing
Regardless of the strategy your employer employs to be flexible in a dynamic employment setting, you do have rights under Florida’s workers’ compensation laws. If you are injured, you have access to benefits and our legal team at Barbas Nuñez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian will help you obtain them. We can also fight for your rights in the event of disputes or denial of coverage. Please call our Tampa, FL office at 813-279-2686 or visit us online to schedule a free consultation, or for more information on workers’ compensation laws in Florida.
