Yes, in general you can be covered from your first day on the job. Illinois workers’ compensation coverage does not wait until you finish training, pass probation, or reach a set number of hours. Part-time, seasonal, and staffing-agency workers can also be covered. What matters is whether you were an employee doing work for the employer when you were hurt, not how long you had been there or how many hours you were scheduled.
First-day injuries
Being new does not remove coverage. A worker hurt on the first shift, during orientation, or while learning a task can still report the injury and seek care. Report it in writing as soon as you can, and do not let a supervisor talk you out of reporting because you are new, still in training, or on a trial period. Keep the name of the person you told and the date you told them.
Part-time and seasonal workers
Part-time and seasonal workers are employees for workers’ compensation purposes too. Hours and pay affect benefit calculations, but they do not decide whether coverage exists. A seasonal worker hurt during the season, and a part-time worker hurt on a short shift, should report and document the injury in the same way as a full-time worker.
Staffing-agency and temporary workers
Temporary work through a staffing agency is common in Illinois warehousing and manufacturing, and it can be confusing about who the employer is. Often the staffing agency is the employer for workers’ compensation, while the company where you actually worked is the client site. Sometimes both may be involved, in what is called a loaning-employer situation. Report the injury to both the agency and the site supervisor in writing, keep both names and contacts, and note which company gave you instructions, set your hours, and supplied your equipment.
What to do after the injury
- Report the injury in writing within 45 days, to the agency and the worksite if both apply, and keep copies.
- Write down what you were doing, who was present, and what equipment or task was involved.
- Seek medical care promptly, and tell the doctor it was a work injury and describe every body part hurt.
- Keep pay records, schedules, and agency paperwork, because they help show the work relationship and the hours worked.
- If an insurer or employer says you are not covered because you are new, part-time, seasonal, or agency staff, ask for that reason in writing.
Related guides and questions
Read After a Work Injury and What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied.
Verify against the IWCC
Rules and procedures can depend on the facts of a case. Check the current rules with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission before relying on anything on this page. If you are seriously hurt, get emergency care first.
This page is general information only. It is not medical advice, not legal advice, and this site is not a law firm. See the Disclaimer.