What is the primary purpose of workers' compensation?

The primary purpose of workers' compensation is to provide compensatory benefits based on injury severity and wages. This system is designed to offer financial support to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. The benefits typically cover medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of lost wages, ensuring that workers receive necessary assistance without having to prove fault or negligence on the part of their employer.

In this framework, the compensation is proportionate to the severity of the injury and the employee's prior earnings, which underscores the system’s goal to adequately support employees during their recovery while maintaining a more predictable cost structure for employers. Thus, option B accurately captures the essence of workers' compensation as a mechanism for balancing the needs of workers and employers within the context of workplace injuries.

Recognizing why the other options do not fit is also important: ensuring full wages regardless of injury does not reflect the typical formulation of benefits in workers' compensation, as it usually provides a fraction of lost wages rather than full pay; while the system does offer protection to employers from lawsuits, that is a secondary consequence rather than a primary purpose; finally, supporting employees in finding new jobs post-injury is not a direct function of workers' compensation, although rehabilitation services may help facilitate a return to