The holiday season is a fantastic time to rest and relax. Many people take vacation before the end of the year to spend time with their family and friends and recharge for the new year. If you have suffered from a workplace injury and are receiving indemnity checks for worker’s compensation, though, what will happen to your holiday pay if you are also receiving workers’ compensation pay during this time? Each state’s workers’ compensation system varies on how they view vacation pay if it overlaps with any Workers’ Compensation pay. Luckily, in Georgia vacation pay is not a credit against workers’ compensation owed, meaning that your vacation pay is entirely separate from any workers’ compensation you are receiving during this time. If you did not suffer from an injury on the job, you would be receiving vacation pay like normal and it would not be interrupted by any other forms of payment. The purpose of workers’ compensation is to attempt to make you whole after a workplace injury, and removing or reducing vacation pay would not be in support of this.

The question of whether or not your employer even offers vacation pay is entirely separate from any workers’ compensation rights. Vacation pay is considered a fringe benefit meaning that employers are not required by law to provide it, however most employers do in order to support their employees work-life balance and show their appreciation. If your employer does not offer vacation pay and you were injured on the job, this does not now entitle you to any vacation pay. 

If you have been injured on the job this holiday season and your employer is attempting to reduce your vacation pay in response to the workers’ compensation you’re already receiving, contact Poirier Law Firm as soon as possible. Although it isn’t ideal to suffer a work-related injury, especially around the holidays, we are here to support you in your fight for your rights. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season from our family to yours!