Workers' Compensation: District of Columbia

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Nicole H. Farley, Fisher Phillips.

Summary

• All private employers in the District of Columbia are required to post the District of Columbia Workers' Compensation Poster in the workplace. See Notice Requirements.
• Workers' compensation is mandatory, employer-financed, no-fault insurance covering workplace injuries or illnesses. All employers in the District of Columbia are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. See Covered Employers.
• All employees are covered by workers' compensation, with two notable exceptions. See Covered Employees.
• Injuries that result from an accident and arise out of and in the course of employment are covered by workers' compensation, as are occupational illnesses that are causally related to the employment. See Compensable Injuries.
• Employers may not be liable for all injuries incurred on the job, depending on the circumstances. See Employer Defenses to Workers' Compensation Claims.
• Injured workers are entitled to payment of related reasonable medical expenses, including medicines, supplies, treatment, and services. See Medical Benefits.
• Workers' compensation pays for a portion of wages lost because of injury, calculated by average weekly wage. See Other Benefits.
• Employees and their dependents may file claims for compensation in the District of Columbia despite being paid or awarded compensation under the workers' compensation law of another state. See Parity in Workers' Compensation Recovery.
• Employees must file a report of injury within 30 days of the injury and employers must file a report of injury within 10 days of notification. Failure to abide by claims procedure timeliness requirements may expose either party to penalties. See Claim Procedure.
• Retaliation against injured workers is strictly prohibited. See Retaliation and Interference.
• Disputed claims are processed through a hearings and appeals procedure. See Administrative Hearings and Court Proceedings.