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Pop Quiz: “True or False: You Can Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Ohio?”
Pop quiz time. No scantron needed. Just your gut reaction:
True or False: You can be fired for filing a Workers’ Compensation claim in Ohio.
If you answered “True”, don’t feel bad this is one of the most common misconceptions we hear from injured workers.
If you answered “False,” congratulations. You’re ahead of the curve.
The Correct Answer: FALSE
Under Ohio Revised Code 4123.90, an employer cannot fire, discipline, or otherwise retaliate against an employee simply for filing a Workers’ Compensation claim or for testifying in a Workers’ Comp proceeding.
In plain English: Filing a claim is not a fireable offense in Ohio.
The law is designed to protect workers who are injured on the job and need medical care or wage replacement benefits. You are allowed to report your injury, seek treatment, and file a claim—without fear of being shown the door just for doing so.
But Here’s Where It Gets Complicated…
Under the law, if your employer pays into the state workers’ compensation fun, you have to have filed the claim for this protection to kick in.
And while the law is clear, real life isn’t always so tidy.
Some employers don’t come right out and say, “We’re firing you because you filed a claim.” Instead, retaliation can be subtle:
Suddenly you’re “not a good fit”
Your performance is questioned for the first time
Policies are enforced against you that were ignored before
Your job is “eliminated” shortly after your injury
That’s why timing, documentation, and legal advice matter.
What Workers Should Know
You have the right to file a Workers’ Comp claim.
You have the right to medical treatment for a work injury.
You have legal protection against retaliation.
If you are fired or disciplined after filing a claim, that may be a separate legal issue worth addressing.
And your time is very limited to do something about it.
Why Talking to a Lawyer Matters
Retaliation cases are fact-specific and often employer-defended aggressively. Proving why someone was fired is rarely straightforward—but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
At The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC, we help Ohio workers understand not just their Workers’ Compensation rights, but how those rights intersect with their employment.
We will help you speak with a qualified employment law attorney and help them if you hire them.
Final Answer (Lock It In):
FALSE.
You cannot be fired for filing a Workers’ Compensation claim in Ohio.
If you’ve been injured at work and are worried about your job—or believe you’ve been punished for asserting your rights—it’s worth getting informed before making assumptions.
419-244-7885
www.kmylaw.com
Because knowing your rights is the first step to protecting them.
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Winter in Ohio isn’t just inconvenient, it can be dangerous, especially for people who work outdoors. Construction workers, utility crews, delivery drivers, landscapers, road crews, and many others face real risks when temperatures drop and wind speeds rise.
One of the most serious cold-weather hazards is frostbite and cold exposure injuries, and yes, these injuries can qualify for Ohio Workers’ Compensation benefits. But let’s try to avoid any claims by understanding the dangers.
❄ Understanding Cold Exposure Injuries
Frostbite occurs when skin and underlying tissue freeze, most often affecting fingers, toes, ears, and the face. Prolonged exposure to cold, wind, and moisture can also lead to hypothermia, nerve damage, and permanent loss of function.
Unlike a slip-and-fall or a sudden accident, cold exposure injuries often develop over time, which can make workers hesitate to report them or employers question whether they’re work-related.
When Is Frostbite a Workers’ Comp Claim?
If your job requires you to work outdoors in unheated environments or travel in the elements for work, and you suffer frostbite or cold-related injuries as a result, that injury would be compensable under Ohio Workers’ Compensation law.
There is no specific, magical thing you need to prove. If you have job duties that resulted in exposure and medical documentation that you were injured, you can get a claim.
But for instance if you have one, fixed place you go, it can’t be from coming and going to work.
What Workers Should Do
First of all prevent these. Be aware of temperatures. Wear gloves and hats and other protective gear.
If you believe you’re suffering from frostbite or cold exposure:
Seek medical attention immediately, don’t “tough it out.”
Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible.
Document conditions and get a copy of reports
Get the advice of a good attorney.
We’re Here to Help
Cold-weather injuries can have long-term consequences, including nerve damage and permanent loss of use, even amputations. At The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC, we help Ohio workers navigate these claims and push back when injuries are minimized or denied.
Working in the cold shouldn’t mean sacrificing your health—or your rights.
419-244-7885
www.kmylaw.com
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Each year, we pause to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., not only for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, but for his enduring message about dignity, fairness, and justice for working people. And we take that seriously around here. We are shutdown on the holiday to let our team go to events and service projects to honor his memory and we were as a firm one of the early donors to his memorial in Washington, DC.
Dr. King understood something that remains just as true today: economic justice and civil rights are inseparable. He spoke often about the value of labor, the importance of safe working conditions, and the moral obligation of society to protect those who do the work that keeps it running.
In one of his final campaigns, in fact it is where he died, Dr. King stood shoulder to shoulder with sanitation workers in Memphis as they fought to collectively bargain. He stood with Men who simply wanted safe equipment, fair treatment, fair pay, and respect for their lives. His message was clear: no worker should be disposable, invisible, or forced to choose between their health and their livelihood.
That belief is supposed to be at the heart of Ohio’s Workers’ Compensation system. While the system is imperfect and often frustrating, its core purpose is rooted in the same principle Dr. King championed: workers deserve protection when they are hurt doing their jobs.
At the Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, we represent Ohio’s working families every day—people who lift, build, care, drive, repair, and serve. When they are injured, they are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for fairness, dignity, and the chance to heal without being cast aside.
On Dr. King’s Day of remembrance, we reflect on his reminder that justice is not abstract. It shows up in workplaces, courtrooms, hearing rooms, and everyday decisions about how people are treated when they are most vulnerable.
Honoring Dr. King means continuing the work—standing up for workers, insisting on fairness, and never losing sight of the human beings behind every claim file.
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New Year’s Resolutions for Safer Workplaces: A New Year’s Message from the Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC
Every January, we all make resolutions. Some of us vow to eat better (yes). Some promise to exercise more (yes, 7 out of 9 days for me). And some of us make the same resolution every year—this is finally the year I’ll clean out my inbox (not going to happen I have four email accounts that generate about 100-150 emails per day)
At the Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC, our favorite New Year’s resolutions are the kind that actually make a difference: resolutions for safer workplaces.
We say it to all clients at the end of our representation, thank you for letting us help you, and please do not need us again. We want there to be zero workplace injuries in Ohio.
But since we’re not there yet, here are a few workplace safety resolutions worth keeping in the new year:
1. Take Safety Seriously—Every Day
Safety isn’t a “check-the-box” exercise. Regular training, clear procedures, and speaking up when something feels unsafe can prevent injuries before they happen.
2. Fix Small Problems Before They Become Big Ones
Loose flooring, poor lighting, broken equipment, or rushed shortcuts are often brushed off—until someone gets hurt. Addressing small hazards early protects everyone.
3. Don’t Ignore Injuries
Working through pain isn’t a badge of honor. Reporting injuries early and getting proper medical care helps prevent long-term damage and protects your rights under Ohio Workers’ Compensation law.
4. Look Out for Each Other
A safe workplace is a team effort. Watching out for coworkers, reminding each other of safety practices, and lending a hand when needed can make all the difference.
5. Know Your Rights
Understanding your rights as a worker is part of staying safe. Workers’ Compensation exists to protect injured workers, not to punish them for speaking up.
While we hope the new year brings fewer workplace injuries, we also know accidents still happen. If they do, The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC will be here to help Ohio’s working families navigate the system and protect what matters most.
Here’s to a safer, healthier, and happier New Year—at work and beyond.
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So let’s talk safety. Specifically: icy walkways and snow-removal back strains—two Ohio winter classics.
❄ 1. The Frozen Minefield: Icy Walkways
Ohioans know that ice is a master of disguise. Sometimes it’s shiny and obvious. Other times it’s that sneaky “black ice” that gives you no warning at all before your feet declare independence from the rest of your body.
Tips for safer steps:
✔ Take it slow. This isn’t the time for power-walking into work.
✔ Wear shoes with real traction. Dress shoes on ice? Let’s not.
✔ Use handrails. They’re not just decorative.
✔ Walk like a penguin. Yes, really. Short steps + center of gravity over your feet = fewer falls.
✔ Report slick areas immediately. Your workplace should address hazards right away—salt, sand, or other treatments.
If you do fall, remember this: falling on ice doesn’t make you clumsy it makes you human in Ohio. Report that fall right away, no claim has ever gone awry due to early reporting. In fact the system looks at how soon you report it on whether to believe you or not.
❄ 2. Snow Removal: A Workout You Didn’t Ask For
Whether you’re shoveling a walkway at work or clearing snow as part of your job, winter often turns employees into temporary athletes. Unfortunately, most of us didn’t warm up, stretch, or emotionally prepare for the experience—and that’s why we see back strains, shoulder injuries, and overexertion claims each winter.
Tips to save your back (and your dignity):
✔ Push the snow instead of lifting it when possible.
✔ Lift with your legs, not your back. Your spine will thank you.
✔ Take breaks. Snow is patient. It isn’t going anywhere.
✔ Use ergonomic tools when available—lightweight shovels, snow pushers, or powered equipment.
✔ Dress properly. Muscles strain more easily when cold.
And if you do tweak something? Don’t ignore it. Pain that starts with “I’m sure it’s nothing” often leads to “I probably shouldn’t have ignored that.” Go get checked out. No claim I have handled has been denied for getting checked out on the day of the injury.
❄ 3. Winter Driving Tips: Stay Safe on the Job
Many Ohio workers drive as part of their job—sales staff, delivery drivers, home health aides, utility workers, and countless others. Even commuting through or to the company property (like a slick lot or worksite) can present risks.
Winter driving is an entirely different sport, so here are key reminders:
Smart driving tips:
✔ Slow everything down—speed, braking, turning. Ice doesn’t negotiate.
✔ Increase following distance. At least 6 seconds behind the vehicle ahead.
✔ Clear ALL snow from your vehicle. Roof avalanches are not a fun surprise.
✔ Avoid sudden braking. Instead, ease off the gas and gently apply brakes.
✔ Use headlights in snow or overcast conditions. Visibility saves lives.
✔ Watch for black ice on bridges and shaded roadways.
✔ If you skid, steer into the skid. Panicking = spinning.
✔ Make sure your vehicle is winter-ready:
Good tires with proper tread
Adequate windshield washer fluid
Working wipers
Emergency kit (blanket, flashlight, scraper, etc.)
And yes—winter driving injuries can be work injuries, but be extra careful, because most people are not covered going to and from work.
If driving is part of your job duties, injuries from winter road hazards may qualify for workers’ compensation in Ohio. But we don’t want you to test that out and we don’t want your business if you don’t need to be our client.
❄ 4. If You Get Hurt at Work—Know Your Rights
Under Ohio Workers’ Compensation law, winter injuries are just as compensable as injuries in any other season. This includes:
Falls on icy work premises or parking lots
Back strains from snow removal
Injuries while driving for work
Aggravation of existing conditions due to slip, strain, or impact
Snow blower/equipment mishaps
If an injury happens, get medical care, report it promptly, and consider contacting an experienced Ohio Workers’ Compensation attorney.
(We know a guy, three decades of experience and teens of thousands of hearings of experience)
❄ Final Thought
Winter in Ohio is unpredictable but your safety doesn’t have to be. A little extra caution goes a long way in preventing injuries and keeping everyone safe, warm, and upright.
If a winter work injury occurs, The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC is ready to help guide you through the workers’ compensation process.
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As a law firm that has spent over three decades protecting Ohio’s working families, The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young wants to help you stay safe, informed, and empowered both on and off the job.
Why do we say holiday season?
Lets be clear, when we say Holiday season, from November 1st to January 6th there are dozens of major secular and religious holidays ( and this is NOT an exhaustive list - Veterans Day, Diwali (Hindu, Sikh, Jain) – Date varies; often falls in November, Birth of Guru Nanak (Sikh) – Usually in November, Thanksgiving (U.S.) – 4th Thursday of November, St. Andrew’s Day (Christian/Scotland) – Nov 30, the season of Advent (Christian), Yule / Winter Solstice (Pagan/Wiccan), Hanukkah (Judaism), Feast of St. Nicholas (Christian), Bodhi Day (Buddhist), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) Las Posadas (Christian) Christmas (Christian ), Feast of St. Stephen (Christian), Kwanzaa (African-American cultural), Boxing Day (U.K., Canada, etc.) New Year’s Eve and Day, Japanese Ōmisoka (Shinto/Buddhist), Zarathosht Diso (Zoroastrian), Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Catholic), Gantan-sai (Shinto), Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Christian), Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh) – Early January (date varies yearly), Epiphany aka Three Kings Day aka Armenian Christmas (Orthodox tradition))
So no matter what your background you have multiple to celebrate, but this can also put you at a bit of an increased risk for injuries.
Why Holiday-Season Work Injuries Increase?
Several factors combine to make November through January one of the highest-risk periods for Ohio workers:
1. Rushed and Fatigued Workers
Holiday overtime, longer hours, and pressure to “get things done before year-end” can lead to fatigue, missed steps, and avoidable mistakes.
2. Short-Staffing and High Turnover
Seasonal employees may be under-trained, and experienced workers may be stretched thin.
3. Weather-Related Hazards
Ohio winters mean ice, snow, and freezing rain—conditions that lead to slips, trips, falls, and transportation-related injuries.
4. Increased Material Handling
Warehousing, retail, manufacturing, and delivery workers often see dramatic spikes in lifting, loading, stocking, and moving goods.
So here are a few common sense Holiday Safety Tips Every Ohio Worker Should Know
1. Take Your Time—Even When Things Get Busy
It’s better to do a task safely than to do it fast. Rushing dramatically increases the risk of injury.
2. Use Winter Footwear and Watch Your Step
Black ice in parking lots, loading docks, and sidewalks is responsible for thousands of injuries every winter. Use handrails, take shorter steps, and report unsafe areas immediately.
3. Lift Smart and Ask for Help
Whether you’re moving inventory or setting up holiday displays, remember proper lifting techniques:
* Bend at the knees
* Keep the load close
* Avoid twisting
* Team-lift when needed
4. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
More activity on the floor—seasonal workers, holiday deliveries, equipment running overtime—means more chances for collisions or trips.
5. Don’t Skip Safety Procedures
Guards, gloves, PPE, lockout/tagout, forklift protocols, these aren’t optional. Even during “crunch time.”
6. Be sensible and safe at the Holiday Party.
Make sure you drink water and stay hydrated, remember when to say when with alcohol, don’t drink and drive.
Despite following all of that, accidents can stil happen.
If You’re Injured at Work During the Holidays:
1. Report the injury immediately to your employer and if possible get a copy of the report and any video of it.
2. Seek medical care immediately make sure your doctor documents the injury accurately and is Ohio BWC Certified. And remember you get to pick.
3. File a claim with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. An Ohio Claim will be two digits, the last two of the year you file the claim a dash and then six digits (so a claim filed on January 1 would look like 26-123456. Internal company claim numbers don’t work on disputes and mean they are hiding your injury.
4. Call an experienced Ohio Workers’ Compensation attorney like us, you need them and you can afford them.
At The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC, we’ve represented injured workers for more than 30 years. We know how to protect your rights and secure the benefits you deserve—Temporary Total Disability (TTD), Wage Loss, Scheduled Loss awards, medical treatment approvals, and more.
Let us handle the legal side so you can focus on healing.
A Few Final Thoughts
The holidays should be a time of joy not injury. With a little extra awareness and a commitment to safety, Ohio workers can protect themselves, their coworkers, and their families. And if something goes wrong, know that you’re not alone.
The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC is here to help Ohio’s working families—during the holidays and every day.
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But here at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC**, one thing we’re always genuinely thankful for is our clients.
Every day, we’re reminded that Ohio’s working men and women are some of the toughest, most resilient people anywhere. You lift, haul, care for, build, repair, teach, transport, serve, and support the communities we live in. When injuries happen, you keep going often in pain, often unsure of what comes next yet still doing your best for your families.
We’re grateful you trust us to help you navigate a system that can feel overwhelming even on its best days. We’re thankful for your patience when the BWC tests it. We’re thankful for your stories, your perseverance, and your sense of humor in the face of forms, deadlines, and hearings scheduled at wildly inconvenient times.
We’re thankful for those moments where a client in a horrible situation says thank you, despite the fact that we are voice and face of a horrible at times system. And for the chances to really meet some of our clients. Ones who had the weight of the world on their shoulders during our initial meeting, but now that the bills are paid, the pain in managed, really show the wonderful people they are.
Most of all, we’re thankful that we get to play even a small role in helping you get the care, compensation, and fairness you deserve.
From all of us at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC:
Thank you for letting us serve Ohio’s working families.
Have a safe, warm, and very Happy Thanksgiving!
If you need us after the leftovers are gone, we’re here. (Well except Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, we’ll be closed)
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Veterans bring unique skills, discipline, and a commitment to teamwork that strengthen every workplace. But we also understand that transitioning from military service to civilian employment can come with challenges — including injuries, both seen and unseen.
When a veteran is hurt on the job, navigating the Ohio Workers’ Compensation system can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s understanding coverage for aggravations of prior service-related injuries, dealing with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, or ensuring access to needed medical care and wage replacement — we’re here to help.
Our firm is honored to represent Ohio’s working veterans. We make it our mission to ensure that those who’ve served our nation are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness when they’re injured on the job.
If you or a loved one who has served in the military has suffered a workplace injury in Ohio, we invite you to reach out to learn your rights and explore your options.
The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC — Proudly helping Ohio’s workers, including those who’ve already served our country, get the benefits they’ve earned.
And in honor of our veterans, we will be closed on Tuesday November 11, 2025.
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Here are two key things to keep in mind:
Bring a valid photo ID
Ohio law requires that voters present a valid photo identification when voting in person. Acceptable forms of ID include an unexpired Ohio driver’s license, Ohio state ID card, interim ID from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, an Ohio National Guard ID, or a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID.
Find Where To Vote
Sadly Boards of Elections do not own their polling places in Ohio or most states. We rent them. And private entities don’t have to rent to us. Also things about a polling place can change making it unusable. So you polling place may have changed. If you live in Lucas County, the Board of Elections has a one stop shop. Go to https://www.lucascountyohiovotes.gov/voter_information/index.php
And you can check your registration, your polling place, even get a sample of what is on your ballot to look at in advance.
If you don’t live in Lucas County you can still go to
https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/ To check where to vote
You don’t have to worry about getting to the polls
Right here in the Toledo area, the Toledo Area Jobs with Justice (a non-partisan, volunteer-run organization) is offering free rides to the polls for anyone in need. Whether you’re commuting to your precinct on Election Day or heading to an early voting center, they’ve got you covered.
Call (419) 868-3669 (419-VOTE-NOW) to schedule your ride. And we work with them so we know they are good and dependable.
Don’t want to count on them? Well then how about TARTA? The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority is offering free rides on Election Day as well go here for more details.
https://tarta.com/community/voter-ready-with-tarta/
Why this matters:
People call these odd year elections “Off Year Elections” because we don’t vote for State or Federal Offices in most cases. But, we do vote for City, Village and Township Leaders, Board of Educations Leaders, also on levies and charter amendments that decide how your area is run. There are nearly over one hundred people, and over a dozen issues you could be asked to decide on. And to use a quote from an old tv show “Decisions are made by those who show up”.
Final Tip: Plan ahead
Check that your photo ID is valid and includes your name (it must “substantially conform” to the name on your registration, it’s OK if address doesn’t we have other safeguards to handle that).
Confirm where you vote
If transportation is the issue make sure to talk to TARTA or Toledo Area Jobs With Justice, the later has voicemail, leave one they do call back and again both are free and the later is DOOR TO DOOR service.
Go on the Board of Elections website, or check with your League of Women Voters or Newspaper Website they will have what candidates and issues will be on the ballot. And make your mind up on what or who to support.
If the ride-service line is busy, leave a voicemail (they will call you back).
Make a plan: when you’ll go, how you’ll get there, and what you’ll bring. Share the free ride option with friends or coworkers who might benefit.
Plan out your time to go and then go and vote.
At our firm, we believe that participating in democracy is part of being a meaningful member of the workforce and the community. We hope you’ll make your voice heard on November 4. Believe us the choices we have made in 1994 to now have dramatically shifted workers compensation law against you. But you can start to change that.
But no matter who you vote for get there. Don’t give up a right won by brave women & men facing bayonets and bombs or fire hoses and snarling dogs.
The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC www.kmylaw.com fighting hard for Hard-Working Ohioans
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