There are many reasons why we may not pursue money owed to us as aggressively as perhaps we should.
Maybe we don’t want to make a nuisance of ourselves. We don’t want to alienate friends, family or colleagues. Perhaps we don’t want to kick up a fuss at work or risk reprisals in the form of withheld salary or even termination of our contracts (given that our bosses can legally sack us for pretty much any reason they want, so long as we can’t prove that we were discriminated against). Nonetheless, not only is this a mockery of justice, it’s making you undergo financial hardship that you should not have to endure. In the post-crisis economy where the next financial crisis could be lurking around any corner, none of us can guarantee our financial certainty. As such, it’s more important than ever to make sure that those who may owe you money are held to account. Any of the following have not only a moral obligation but a legal obligation to pay you what you’re due…
Your employer
Your employer has a duty of care to ensure that you can go about your daily duties without any impediment to your health or wellbeing. Everything from the ergonomics of your desk, monitor, chair and keyboard to the labelling of hazardous chemicals must be strictly monitored to prevent injury or harm at work. Thus, if you’ve been injured at work, despite following the health and safety protocols of the workplace, you are eligible for compensation. Some people do not pursue this as they worry that it will alienate them from their employers. Nonetheless, this is money that they are legally owed. You should talk to your union rep or a worker’s comp attorney as soon as possible as delaying can decrease your chances of a successful claim.
The driver who rear-ended you last month
Personal injuries on the road are another area in which people are loath to claim. Perhaps they feel that the other driver made an honest mistake or that their injuries as a result weren’t too severe. Nonetheless, any car crash law firm will tell you that you should fight to win, not just to settle. If your insurer does not give you that to which you’re entitled, you should use a firm who will go the extra mile for you.
The IRS
If you’ve changed jobs recently or have recently entered self employment, there’s a good chance that the IRS may owe you some money. This may be a rebate from any emergency tax that you paid when you first changed jobs or it could be in the form of deductions that you did not know that you were eligible to claim. This is why a good accountant is more than worth their fee as they will save you far more in any given year than they actually cost.
You don’t need to risk alienating people, losing friends or falling afoul of your employer to claim the money you’re due. After all, it’s your right to pursue compensation if you’ve been slighted!
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