'This is going to [ruin] my bonus!': Subcontractor protects a labor worker who breaks his leg, reporting meticulous documentation after their safety officer tries to get out of paying worker's comp

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Sep 16, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

A labor man broke his leg on the job by slipping between some dangerous high-rise scaffolding, but instead of leaving him to fend for himself with the medical bills and the leave, his manager stepped up and defended him. Knowing that it would cost the managerial team their safety bonuses, this upstanding subcontractor diligently recorded all of the events of his employee's injury and refused to let corporate brush his physical ailments to the wayside.

The right thing to do isn't always the easiest, but when it comes to meticulous compliance, this contractor is the defendant you want in your corner defending your case, because he was prepared to go the extra mile in good conscience. 

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    via ImagesbyBarbara

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • My dad has worked in the construction business for decades, and I've heard my fair share of stories of physical injuries on the job. It's not uncommon in the blue-collar labor fields to have employees hurt themselves, but it's also not uncommon to have plenty of laborers off payroll and ready to replace them if things go sideways. Oftentimes, employees get valued by their physical capabilities, so if they're hurt, they're no good to the job site. 

    So when a contractor is willing and ready to support their crew, despite their injuries, that's the mark of a truly good man on the job. 

  • Always cross your Ts and dot your Is
    via 2dogslife
  • I used to work in the office of a few companies in the DoT trades. At one, I had a guy walking off site with a coworker on a Friday night.
    via 2dogslife
  • He slipped between the crane treads. He managed to gimp home on public transportation, but when he went to take his workboots off, he knew there was something seriously wrong.
    via 2dogslife
  • So, I get the call Monday he broke his leg/ankle. I write it all down, talk to the boss and get the 411 for doing the workmen's comp report - because there are HUGE fines if you don't report workplace accidents within a certain time - frame usually 24 hours.
    via 2dogslife
  • Now, we were subs, so, not only did I have to report directly to the project's worker's comp line, I had to report to the contractor's safety officer for their compliance as well.
    via 2dogslife
  • I get the safety officer on the phone, "Hey SO, I am calling to report a workplace accident for Friday, three days ago. Here's an overview of..."
    via 2dogslife
  • SO, "GD IT!!! We've gone over a hundred (I forget the exact number, but it was more than 100 and less than 200) days without an accident.
    via 2dogslife
  • This is going to F##k UP my bonus!" insert more muttering and swears....
    via 2dogslife
  • "Well, SO, I understand how disappointing that must be, but poor worker has a broken leg. I think we need to keep our perspective here."
    via 2dogslife
  • SO, "Fine, whatever." SO barely took note of what I said, and hung up pretty quickly.
    via 2dogslife
  • I write out my notes - talked with SO of BIG Co from this time to that and outline the details of what we covered during our conversation.
    via 2dogslife
  • I go on and call the workmen's comp line for the project and get a to do list so the worker gets paid while out of commission.
    via 2dogslife
  • There's no problem about the time lag as I called within hours of being informed. Whew!
    via 2dogslife
  • I make a file, add all my notes, copies of the worksheets I make and go onto the next fire to put out.
    via 2dogslife
  • Well, It was a fine thing I did all that, because a month or so later, Big Guy from Big Co calls me up and tries to tell me that they got a huge fine because of us,
    via 2dogslife
  • and per the contract, we were on the hook for something outrageous like $50K. I didn't even read my boss in at that point.
    via 2dogslife
  • "Big Guy, you mean the accident I reported on... wait a moment, here's the file, on Monday within an hour of being told.
    via 2dogslife
  • I spoke with SO for 8 minutes and we covered these details. Oh, he did mention being upset to lose his safety bonus."
    via 2dogslife
  • Silence.
    via 2dogslife
  • "Are you sure you want to pull out contracts about reporting standards? I'd be happy to include my notes of all that I did that day, and have followed up on?"
    via 2dogslife
  • Big guy, "No, that's fine. I've got it from my end."
    via 2dogslife
  • "Well BG, have a great rest of your day then."
    via 2dogslife
  • ThriceFive · That was less malicious compliance and more like meticulous compliance. Good job protecting that worker's health and rights and covering your employer. I hope they recognized you for covering *their* a with good notes too.
    via ThriceFive
  • JFerrer619 And the aftermath? Did nothing happen afterwards? Did SO get reprimanded? Did you have to pay the 50k? Are you out of job? What happened?
    via JFerrer619
  • 2dogslife OP. No, we didn't pay the ridiculous fine. Big Co was on the hook for that one because of their bonehead safety officer. Big Guy is still running his Big Co and still a j 20 years later.
    via 2dogslife
  • Worker was TO'd because he was of the Don't Worry, Be Happy folks who had a casual approach to employment, often failing to show up several days of a week. However, when he did show up, he was a good worker, and he helped the company meet federal minority employment
    via 2dogslife
  • standards. He thought his WC payment should be based on his hourly at 40 hours. However, I went back over a year's pay records, and his average actual hours were something like 25 - but it's an insurance form on a federal project - you report facts, not wishes.
    via 2dogslife
  • The company I worked for went bankrupt about 6 months later, because the previous admin failed to submit reports and legal fees ate up the profits. There were some colorful moments though while I was along for the ride.
    via 2dogslife

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