At approximately 2 a.m. on January 15, 2005, John Connolly, a night shift manager at the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA), reached into a water tank to clean a probe that was triggering an alarm. Suddenly, as he was holding an extension rod, he felt a sharp, jolt-like pain in his mid-back. Within 24 hours he could no longer walk. He was diagnosed with a compressed spinal cord injury, and his prognosis was that he would be paraplegic for life. Yet when John spoke to his workers’ compensation representative, he vowed that he would walk, work, and be active again. And he was right! After extensive therapy and recovery, he progressed from using a wheelchair to a scooter, then to leg braces and finally a walker. He was able to return to work and now, 20 years later, he is ready to retire.

“He never gave up,” said Robin Duvall, Director of Workers’ Compensation Claims, VRSA. “He said from the beginning he was going to walk again, and we wanted to do everything we could to support him throughout his journey. He’s just such an inspiration to all of us here.”

But John is quick to say that he could not have done it alone. He credits his entire “support squad,” which includes his medical team and therapists, his family, workers’ compensation, and UOSA. He gives special credit to the physical therapists who helped him learn to take care of himself and “kicked his butt” in the gym. His progress was so dramatic that the original 8-week approval from workers’ comp was extended to 16 months, which gave John the extra care he needed to get his life back. Without the medical and wage benefits he received, John is sure he would not be where he is today.

John also received support from UOSA, the company he worked for both before and after the accident. They made accommodations for him to return to work when he was still in a wheelchair, and that gave him a sense of purpose, which in turn, motivated him to keep progressing.

Helping Workers Since 1911

Workers’ compensation in the United States was first established in 1911 by Wisconsin, making it the first state to enact a law that compensated injured workers regardless of fault. After Wisconsin’s lead, many other states passed similar laws, but it didn’t become nationwide until 1948, when Mississippi became the last state to enact a workers’ comp law. While it’s impossible to know exactly how many people have received benefits (historical data is not available), the U.S. Department of Labor reported over 178,000 workers and survivors received workers’ comp benefits in 2024 alone.

Workers’ comp helps people by providing medical benefits, wage loss payments, and rehabilitation for people who are injured at work or suffer work-related illnesses. It can also cover long-term care needs, such an ongoing physical therapy after a severe injury, as it did in John’s case. In the event of a work-related fatality, benefits are provided to the employee’s dependents.

It’s hard to imagine how different life for an injured worker and his or her family might be without these important benefits. Without some form of compensation, workers and their families would face financial hardship, and would likely be unable to receive the treatment needed to recover from injuries or illness.

Feeling Thankful

Like John, millions of workers over the years have been helped by this important safety net – and they are thankful for it! In many ways, workers’ comp ensures not just recovery, but dignity, as it often gives people the opportunity to return to work and provide for themselves and their families. During this month of Thanksgiving, it seems especially appropriate to express appreciation for employers who offer workers’ compensation and go the extra mile to support their employees, along with many other organizations that help workers and their families, including:

  • The Families and Workers Fund (FWF): A funding collaboration that works to create good jobs and increase access to public benefits.
  • Jobs with Justice: An organization that fights for employment security and a decent standard of living, as well as the right for workers to organize and bargain collectively.
  • Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial (TSFFM): Since 2003, TSFFM has provided more than $500,000 in scholarships for children of injured and disabled workers to attend college. The Disability Guys are proud founders of this scholarship program and Brian Mittman currently serves as Treasurer, after serving 10 years as President. Visit https://trianglememorial.org/scholarship/ for more information.

“Compensation is not charity; it’s acknowledgement of humanity at work,” This quote from an unknown author expresses the importance of treating workers justly and with compassion. Here at The Disability Guys, we believe that all workers are entitled to a safe workplace, fair compensation, and in the case of a work-related injury or illness, the workers’ compensation they are entitled to receive.

If you have questions about workers’ comp or need help filing a claim, give us a call at 866-205-2415 for a free consultation.