What Happens When Employees Die On The Job?

The death of an employee is certainly a difficult matter for an employer, even when the employee’s death happened away from the workplace and was in no way related to work.

However, as grisly as it may seem to contemplate, employees do sometimes die at work or as a result of a work accident or injury.

In looking at these unfortunate eventualities for many businesses, we need to consider whether the employee’s death is compensable, what sort of presumptions exist under the law, who may receive benefits, and what benefits are payable and for how long.

As the workers’ compensation system is state-based, laws surrounding death claims can vary.

The following will use Georgia law as an example to explore the handling of death claims, but employers and insurers should consult with laws in their state for the particulars of their claims.