As an employee, you may be entitled to workers' compensation when hurt on the job in Wisconsin, as most employees are. To get it, though, it's important to keep these key steps in mind.
1. Report the injury right away. Do not wait or put it off. If anything changes--you notice more complications from the injury, for example--report that as well.
2. Allow your employer to file the reports with the insurance company. Don't assume you're obligated to do this yourself. If you made the official report at work, the next step should be taken for you.
3. Sit out the waiting period. This is three days long. It can be frustrating, but that's just how it's set up, and it doesn't mean compensation isn't coming for those days. If you're eligible, you'll be compensated for them in the end.
4. Receive and cash your check. Typically, your workers' comp check will take about two weeks to get to you, though it could be faster if everything is done properly, and it could be longer if there are complications. That's why filing the report right away is so crucial.
5. Try to get back to work as soon as you can. You don't want your employer to think that you're milking the system. However, if your injury lingers or won't heal entirely, and so you really cannot go back to work, it's time to look into options like disability payments or training for a new job that you can do.
If you have any questions about the legal process, be sure that you look into it thoroughly.
Source: State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, "Facts for Injured Workers about Worker's Compensation in Wisconsin," accessed May 06, 2016