Workers' Compensation

The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law is a no-fault statutory scheme for compensating employees who suffer injuries in the scope of their employment.^[1]In private industry, on-the-job injuries are governed by these laws, but counties are not covered by the Workers’ compensation laws unless they choose to be covered.^[2]A county’s decision to come under these laws is effective 30 days after the county files written notice of exercising this option with the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The county may cancel at any time by giving the same type of written notice. A county, through its legislative body, can choose to cover only designated departments and may also cancel coverage on a selective basis.

Elected officials do not fall within the definition of “employee” and therefore are not covered under the Workers’ Compensation Law.^[3]While volunteers also generally are not considered covered employees, volunteer firefighters and rescue personnel are considered covered employees under a special provision in the law.^[4]