Final answer:
Workman's compensation insurance is the law that provides compensation and medical care to employees who are injured on the job. Employers pay into state-run funds to cover such benefits. These laws have historical roots in early efforts to protect workers and improve safety conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The law that provides compensation and medical care for employees who are injured on the job is known as workman's compensation insurance. This is a form of insurance requiring employers to contribute a small percentage of the salaries they pay into state-run funds. These funds are designed to offer benefits to workers in the unfortunate event that they suffer an injury while performing their job duties. Over time, various countries have implemented similar systems, starting with Germany's Health Insurance Law in 1883. In the United States, workers have additional rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), including the right to a safe workplace and the ability to file complaints about workplace conditions without fear of retaliation.
History of Workers' Compensation:
Workers' compensation laws were among several reforms advocated by the early 20th-century Progressive movement to improve industrial labor conditions and reduce workplace injuries. As industrial casualties grew, so did the demand for laws that would provide workers in private industry with protections akin to those available to federal employees. These demands eventually led to the implementation of mandatory compensation laws in various states across the U.S., as well as federal protections.