The Tennessee workers compensation act — formally the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-101 short title; it controls injuries on or after July 1, 2014). It was originally passed as the “Workmen’s Compensation Act.”, found at Tennessee Code Annotated Title 50, Chapter 6 (§§ 50-6-101 through 50-6-1016) — is the statute behind every workers’ comp claim, benefit and employer mandate in the state.
This plain-English guide to the Tennessee workers compensation act gives the section numbers next to the rules people actually need: who must be covered, the deadlines, the waiting period, the pay rate, the exclusive-remedy bargain, the ban on retaliation and the penalties. Verified against the official code as of October 2026.
Tennessee at a Glance
| Official name | Workers’ Compensation Law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-101 short title; it controls injuries on or after July 1, 2014). It was originally passed as the “Workmen’s Compensation Act.” |
| Where it lives | Tennessee Code Annotated Title 50, Chapter 6 (§§ 50-6-101 through 50-6-1016) |
| First enacted | 1919 (Acts 1919, ch. 123) |
| Reporting deadline | Written notice to the employer within 15 days after the accident, unless the worker shows a reasonable excuse (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-201) |
| Filing deadline | A petition for benefit determination must be filed with the Bureau within 1 year after the accident if no benefits were paid. If the employer voluntarily paid benefits, the year runs from the later of the last authorized treatment or the last payment (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-203). |
| Exclusive remedy | Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-108 makes workers’ comp the exclusive remedy against the employer. The main exception comes from case law, not the statute: a tort suit is allowed only where the employer actually intended to injure the worker. Gross negligence or “substantial certainty” is not enough. |
In This Tennessee Guide:
What the Tennessee Workers Compensation Act Is
A workers’ compensation act is a no-fault deal written into state law: the employer pays for work injuries without the worker proving fault, and the worker gives up most lawsuits against the employer in return. The Tennessee workers compensation act dates to 1919 (Acts 1919, ch. 123). It lives at Tennessee Code Annotated Title 50, Chapter 6 (§§ 50-6-101 through 50-6-1016), and the official text is linked in the sources.
Tennessee moved disputed claims out of the general trial courts into a dedicated administrative Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims in 2014. Construction services providers must carry coverage even with fewer than 5 employees (§ 50-6-902). For injuries from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, the Bureau’s published maximum weekly benefit is 1353 and the minimum is 202.95 (2026 figures, which change each July 1).
Many claimants should confirm their current rates and deadlines with the Bureau and a licensed attorney.
Who the Tennessee Workers Compensation Act Covers
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-405(a) requires every covered employer to insure through an authorized carrier or get a self-insurance certificate. Under § 50-6-102, an “employer” uses 5 or more persons for pay; the threshold is 1 employee in coal mining, and construction services providers are covered regardless of headcount (§ 50-6-902). Tenn.
Code Ann. § 50-6-106 exempts casual employment, domestic servants, and farm or agricultural laborers (their employers may opt in by buying a policy), plus employers regularly employing fewer than 5 persons (except construction under § 50-6-902).
Deadlines in the Tennessee Workers Compensation Act
Waiting period: Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-205: 7 days, not counting the day of injury. Pay is retroactive to the first day if the disability lasts 14 days.. Wage-loss rate: Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-207: temporary total disability is 66 2/3 percent of average weekly wage, subject to the yearly maximum and minimum weekly benefit (see § 50-6-102 and the Bureau’s annual rate notice).
Tennessee Workers Compensation Act: Key Sections at a Glance
The sections of the Tennessee workers compensation act that decide most cases, each with its citation:
| Coverage mandate | Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-405(a) requires every covered employer to insure through an authorized carrier or get a self-insurance certificate. Under § 50-6-102, an “employer” uses 5 or more persons for pay; the threshold is 1 employee in coal mining, and construction services providers are covered regardless of headcount (§ 50-6-902). |
| Exemptions | Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-106 exempts casual employment, domestic servants, and farm or agricultural laborers (their employers may opt in by buying a policy), plus employers regularly employing fewer than 5 persons (except construction under § 50-6-902). |
| Report an injury | Written notice to the employer within 15 days after the accident, unless the worker shows a reasonable excuse (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-201) |
| File a claim | A petition for benefit determination must be filed with the Bureau within 1 year after the accident if no benefits were paid. If the employer voluntarily paid benefits, the year runs from the later of the last authorized treatment or the last payment (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-203). |
| Waiting period | Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-205: 7 days, not counting the day of injury. Pay is retroactive to the first day if the disability lasts 14 days. |
| Wage-loss rate | Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-207: temporary total disability is 66 2/3 percent of average weekly wage, subject to the yearly maximum and minimum weekly benefit (see § 50-6-102 and the Bureau’s annual rate notice) |
| Exclusive remedy | Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-108 makes workers’ comp the exclusive remedy against the employer. The main exception comes from case law, not the statute: a tort suit is allowed only where the employer actually intended to injure the worker. Gross negligence or “substantial certainty” is not enough. |
| Retaliation | There is no dedicated retaliation section in Title 50, Chapter 6. Protection comes from common-law retaliatory discharge under Clanton v. Cain-Sloan Co., 677 S.W.2d 441 (Tenn. 1984), which makes it unlawful to fire an at-will worker for seeking workers’ comp benefits. The remedy is a civil tort action for damages, and the claim must show the comp claim was a substantial factor in the firing. |
| Uninsured employer penalty | Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-412: the Bureau assesses 1.5 times the average yearly premium for the period of non-compliance, minus any premium paid, with a minimum of 1000 in construction. Failing to obtain coverage when ordered brings a second penalty of the greater of 1000 or one year’s premium. Two or more violations within 5 years bring the greater of 3000 or 3 times the unpaid premium per violation. |
| Who hears disputes | The Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims, an administrative court within the Bureau created July 1, 2014, hears disputed claims (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-237; § 50-6-238 also governs proceedings). The 3-judge Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board reviews its orders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-217). A petition for benefit determination is filed with the Bureau first (§ 50-6-203). |
The Exclusive-Remedy Bargain in the Tennessee Workers Compensation Act
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-108 makes workers’ comp the exclusive remedy against the employer. The main exception comes from case law, not the statute: a tort suit is allowed only where the employer actually intended to injure the worker. Gross negligence or “substantial certainty” is not enough.
Retaliation and Penalties Under the Tennessee Workers Compensation Act
There is no dedicated retaliation section in Title 50, Chapter 6. Protection comes from common-law retaliatory discharge under Clanton v. Cain-Sloan Co., 677 S.W.2d 441 (Tenn. 1984), which makes it unlawful to fire an at-will worker for seeking workers’ comp benefits. The remedy is a civil tort action for damages, and the claim must show the comp claim was a substantial factor in the firing. Tenn.
Code Ann. § 50-6-412: the Bureau assesses 1.5 times the average yearly premium for the period of non-compliance, minus any premium paid, with a minimum of 1000 in construction. Failing to obtain coverage when ordered brings a second penalty of the greater of 1000 or one year’s premium. Two or more violations within 5 years bring the greater of 3000 or 3 times the unpaid premium per violation.
The Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims, an administrative court within the Bureau created July 1, 2014, hears disputed claims (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-237; § 50-6-238 also governs proceedings). The 3-judge Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board reviews its orders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-217). A petition for benefit determination is filed with the Bureau first (§ 50-6-203).
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Recent Amendments to the Tennessee Workers Compensation Act
No amendment to the Tennessee workers compensation act effective in 2024, 2025 or 2026 was identified in the official code at verification time. Benefit maximums still change every year under the existing sections.
How to Read the Tennessee Workers Compensation Act
Statute pages are written for lawyers, so read the Tennessee workers compensation act in this order: the definitions section (who is an employee), the coverage section, then the specific section for your question, using the citations above. The official code is the source; the summaries on legal-information sites are not.
If a section of the Tennessee workers compensation act seems to conflict with what an insurer told you, the section wins — and the state agency’s information line can confirm it for free.
Applying the act: the Tennessee claim guide turns these sections into steps and dates, and the Tennessee requirements guide covers the employer side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Tennessee workers compensation act in the code?
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 50, Chapter 6 (§§ 50-6-101 through 50-6-1016). The sources below link to the official text.
How long do I have to report a work injury under the Tennessee act?
Written notice to the employer within 15 days after the accident, unless the worker shows a reasonable excuse (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-201). Report in writing as soon as possible either way.
Can I sue my employer instead of using the Tennessee workers compensation act?
Usually not — the exclusive-remedy section bars most lawsuits against a covered employer. Claims against third parties, and against an uninsured employer, are the common exceptions.
Official Tennessee Sources & Resources
- Tennessee Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development): https://www.tn.gov/workforce/divisions/workerscompensation.html
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Tennessee workers compensation act guide was last verified against official Tennessee sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
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More Tennessee Workers’ Comp Guides
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- Tennessee Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.