--- title: Employee Refuses Workers’ Comp Treatment description: Learn how to handle employees who refuse workers' comp treatment. Understand your responsibilities, document refusals, and protect your organization. image: https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/Woman%20with%20her%20hand%20extended%20signaling%20to%20stop%20(only%20her%20hand%20is%20in%20focus).jpeg --- [Skip to the main content.](https://education.veritasrm.com/employee-refuses-workers-comp-treatment#main-content) [![Veritas Insurance](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_2022-07-27_161347-removebg-preview.png?width=679&height=124&name=Screenshot_2022-07-27_161347-removebg-preview.png "Veritas Insurance")](https://veritasrm.com/) [![Veritas Insurance](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/veritasrm-1.png?width=1000&height=145&name=veritasrm-1.png "Veritas Insurance")](https://veritasrm.com/) - Get Insurance - [Business Insurance](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/) - [Types of Coverage](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/business-insurance/) - [Personal Insurance](https://veritasrm.com/personal/) - About Us - [Companies We Represent](https://veritasrm.com/companies-we-represent/) - [Contact Us](https://veritasrm.com/contact-us/) - [Meet Our Team](https://veritasrm.com/meet-our-team/) - [Andrew Darlington](https://veritasrm.com/andrew-darlington/) - [Tammy Collins](https://veritasrm.com/tammy-collins/) - [Regina Davis](https://veritasrm.com/regina-davis/) - [Jennifer Plaisted](https://veritasrm.com/jennifer-plaisted/) - [Tony Dale](https://veritasrm.com/tony-dale/) - [Jonathan Lugo](https://veritasrm.com/jonathan-lugo/) - [Laryn Hurley](https://veritasrm.com/laryn-hurley/) - [Sheri Taylor](https://veritasrm.com/sheri-taylor/) - [Lynn Hodge](https://veritasrm.com/lynn-hodge/) - [Heather Trent](https://veritasrm.com/heather-trent/) - [Andy Warner](https://veritasrm.com/andy-warner/) - [Sarrah Rossi](https://veritasrm.com/sarrah-rossi/) - [Refer Us and Win](https://veritasrm.com/refer-us-and-win/) - [Blog](https://education.veritasrm.com) Search *Search* Toggle Menu Search *Search* Toggle Menu - Get Insurance *Toggle Menu* - [Business Insurance *Toggle Menu*](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/) - [Types of Coverage](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/business-insurance/) - [Personal Insurance](https://veritasrm.com/personal/) - About Us *Toggle Menu* - [Companies We Represent](https://veritasrm.com/companies-we-represent/) - [Contact Us](https://veritasrm.com/contact-us/) - [Meet Our Team *Toggle Menu*](https://veritasrm.com/meet-our-team/) - [Andrew Darlington](https://veritasrm.com/andrew-darlington/) - [Tammy Collins](https://veritasrm.com/tammy-collins/) - [Regina Davis](https://veritasrm.com/regina-davis/) - [Jennifer Plaisted](https://veritasrm.com/jennifer-plaisted/) - [Tony Dale](https://veritasrm.com/tony-dale/) - [Jonathan Lugo](https://veritasrm.com/jonathan-lugo/) - [Laryn Hurley](https://veritasrm.com/laryn-hurley/) - [Sheri Taylor](https://veritasrm.com/sheri-taylor/) - [Lynn Hodge](https://veritasrm.com/lynn-hodge/) - [Heather Trent](https://veritasrm.com/heather-trent/) - [Andy Warner](https://veritasrm.com/andy-warner/) - [Sarrah Rossi](https://veritasrm.com/sarrah-rossi/) - [Refer Us and Win](https://veritasrm.com/refer-us-and-win/) - [Blog](https://education.veritasrm.com) [*Facebook*](https://education.veritasrm.com/employee-refuses-workers-comp-treatment#0) [*Instagram*](https://education.veritasrm.com/employee-refuses-workers-comp-treatment#0) [*LinkedIn*](https://education.veritasrm.com/employee-refuses-workers-comp-treatment#0) [*Twitter*](https://education.veritasrm.com/employee-refuses-workers-comp-treatment#0) [*Youtube*](https://education.veritasrm.com/employee-refuses-workers-comp-treatment#0) [*Medium*](https://education.veritasrm.com/employee-refuses-workers-comp-treatment#0) 1 min read # Employee Refuses Workers’ Comp Treatment [![Picture of Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/DarlingtonFace.jpg) Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/author/andrew-darlington) : July 15, 2024 at 10:26 AM [Workers' Compensation](https://education.veritasrm.com/tag/workers-compensation) ![Employee Refuses Workers’ Comp Treatment](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/Woman%20with%20her%20hand%20extended%20signaling%20to%20stop%20(only%20her%20hand%20is%20in%20focus).jpeg) ### Click Below and Listen To "Employee Refuses Workers’ Comp Treatment" # When an Employee Refuses Workers’ Compensation Treatment    Based on the geographic location of your business, many state workers’ compensation statutes limit and mandate certain employer actions when a worker is injured. Depending on the state, there are specific timelines to follow and forms to complete. But what about when a worker is injured and refuses to accept treatment or file a claim? What are your responsibilities? While the exact legal answer depends on your situation and state laws, consider the following to limit your liability.  ## When You Notice If you notice that an employee has been injured, even if the employee has not mentioned it, gently bring it up and discuss the circumstances of the injury with the employee to determine whether the injury is job-related. Many state workers’ compensation statutes obligate employers to report injuries as soon as they have knowledge of them. Delay in reporting the injury could result in much more costly claims. Completing the paperwork to report injuries is not an admission of your liability—on the contrary, it could protect you.      ## In the Case of Refusal When you do discuss the injury with the employee, explain that reporting job-related injuries entitles injured workers to certain benefits while recovering from the injury. If the employee does not wish to file a claim for the injury, file the employer’s portion of the report with a statement of refusal to pursue a claim signed by the employee. It is crucial that you document this conversation to protect your organization from being penalized in the future.  Employees that do initially report injuries but then refuse treatment under the physician or facility that your organization furnishes should sign a similar form confirming this refusal.  ## Benefits for Employees that Refuse Treatment State workers’ comp statutes vary, but in most cases, workers’ compensation benefits are suspended for employees that refuse to comply with any reasonable request for examination or refuse to accept medical service or physical rehabilitation which the employer elects to furnish. Benefits may not be payable for this period of refusal of treatment—check with your workers’ comp carrier.   ## What to Do Now It is important that you prepare for an eventual employee who refuses to submit a claim or refuse to accept treatment for a workplace injury. All employers should have a legal representative draft a form for refusal of treatment that complies with state requirements so it is immediately available when needed. Discuss with supervisors the importance of documenting and reporting all injuries, whether or not the worker chooses to report them. Workers’ compensation insurance is obligatory in most states. Contact the insurance professionals at Veritas Risk Management & Insurance Services for more information. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Your Experience Modification Factor](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/Capture2.png)](https://education.veritasrm.com/your-experience-modification-factor) #### [Your Experience Modification Factor](https://education.veritasrm.com/your-experience-modification-factor) ![Picture of Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DarlingtonFace.jpg?width=30&name=DarlingtonFace.jpg) [Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/author/andrew-darlington) : October 28, 2024 at 5:41 PM Why is this Important for You? [Workers' Compensation](https://education.veritasrm.com/tag/workers-compensation) [Read More](https://education.veritasrm.com/your-experience-modification-factor) [![T - When is a Workers’ Compensation Claim Compensable?](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/Successful%20business%20people%20at%20a%20corporate%20meeting.jpeg)](https://education.veritasrm.com/when-is-a-workers-compensation-claim-compensable) #### [T - When is a Workers’ Compensation Claim Compensable?](https://education.veritasrm.com/when-is-a-workers-compensation-claim-compensable) ![Picture of Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DarlingtonFace.jpg?width=30&name=DarlingtonFace.jpg) [Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/author/andrew-darlington) : September 20, 2024 at 2:20 PM Carefully evaluating workers’ compensation claims is crucial in helping your company save money and prevent fraud. What is Workers’ compensation? It... [Workers' Compensation](https://education.veritasrm.com/tag/workers-compensation) [Read More](https://education.veritasrm.com/when-is-a-workers-compensation-claim-compensable) [![Working With Medical Providers](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/Medical%20team%20at%20the%20hospital%20looking%20very%20happy.jpeg)](https://education.veritasrm.com/working-with-medical-providers) #### [Working With Medical Providers](https://education.veritasrm.com/working-with-medical-providers) ![Picture of Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DarlingtonFace.jpg?width=30&name=DarlingtonFace.jpg) [Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/author/andrew-darlington) : September 9, 2024 at 2:14 PM When a workers’ compensation claim occurs within your organization, it’s crucial to do everything you can to support the ill or injured employee’s... [Business Insights](https://education.veritasrm.com/tag/business-insights) [Workers' Compensation](https://education.veritasrm.com/tag/workers-compensation) [Read More](https://education.veritasrm.com/working-with-medical-providers) ##### Site Navigation Site Navigation - [Home](https://veritasrm.com) - [Personal](https://veritasrm.com/personal/) - [Business](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/business-insurance/) - [About us](https://veritasrm.com/meet-our-team/) - [Contact us](https://veritasrm.com/contact-us/) - [Blog](https://veritasrm.com/blog/) - [Service Center](https://veritasrm.com/service-center/) ##### Contact Contact - [4451 North Roan Street Suite #201](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Veritas+Risk+Management+and+Insurance+Services/@36.3843639,-82.4100702,15z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x885a881f771d2425:0xf3c063745e16f772!2sVeritas+Risk+Management+and+Insurance+Services!8m2!3d36.3842735!4d-82.4097824!16s%2Fg%2F1thd7db4!3m5!1s0x885a881f771d2425:0xf3c063745e16f772!8m2!3d36.3842735!4d-82.4097824!16s%2Fg%2F1thd7db4) - [Johnson City, TN 37615](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4451+N+Roan+St+%23201,+Johnson+City,+TN+37615/@36.38462,-82.4098307,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x885a8815fdb65d9d:0xf09c719d3519939!8m2!3d36.38462!4d-82.4098307!16s%2Fg%2F11n_yvqhzc) - [(423) 292-4142](tel:423-292-4142) - [help@VeritasRM.com](mailto:help@VeritasRM.com) - [Monday - Friday 8:30a - 5:00p](https://Veritasrm.com) - [Career Opportunities](https://veritasrm.com/career-opportunities/) [![Screenshot\_2022-07-27\_161347-removebg-preview](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/Screenshot_2022-07-27_161347-removebg-preview.png)](https://veritasrm.com/) © 2026 All Rights Reserved ©2022 Veritas Risk Management & Insurance Services [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/veritasrm/)[*Twitter*](https://twitter.com/veritas_ins)[*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/veritasriskmanagement/?hl=en)[*LinkedIn*](https://www.linkedin.com/company/veritasrm)[*YouTube*](https://www.youtube.com/c/VeritasRiskManagementIncJohnsonCity) *Return to Top* ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Andrew Darlington", "url" : "https://education.veritasrm.com/author/andrew-darlington" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-15T14:26:00.309Z", "datePublished" : "2024-07-15T14:26:00.000Z", "headline" : "Employee Refuses Workers’ Comp Treatment", "image" : [ "https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/Woman%20with%20her%20hand%20extended%20signaling%20to%20stop%20(only%20her%20hand%20is%20in%20focus).jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://education.veritasrm.com/employee-refuses-workers-comp-treatment", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/LOGO.png" }, "name" : "Veritas Risk Management, Inc." } } ```