Recent Reuters and New York Times pieces covered the news of one of 100 meatpacking plants where COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred. Families of workers who became ill, some of whom died from the virus, have been denied compensation.

These pieces together highlight the difficulty of linking COVID-19 infections to employment and getting compensation for medical care and lost wages. The elusive key is the employee’s ability to prove that their illness was caused by their employment.