Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law two bills that grant presumptive workers’ compensation protections to health care and frontline workers. The new laws mean that it will be presumed health care and frontline workers contracted a contagious or infectious disease at work when they file an L&I workers’ compensation claim.
Frontline workers are those who interact with the general public or other employees in the course of their work during the public health emergency.
The issue of whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor and whether they can access workers’ compensation benefits continues to be a hot topic. All workers in Washington are entitled to workers’ compensation unless they fit strict exemption definitions. A 1099 form is a federal form and has no bearing on Washington state workers’ compensation coverage.
If your employer is protesting your L&I claim and alleging you are not an “employee,” Lehmbecker Law may be able to help. If we can show evidence that there was a “valid” employer-employee relationship then the injured worker could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Call us at 425-455-3186 or email [email protected] for a free consultation.