The Workingmen's Compensation Act was a federal law

Federal law

Federal law is the body of law created by the federal government of a country. A federal government is formed when a group of political units, such as states or provinces join together in a federation, surrendering their individual sovereignty and many powers to the central government while...

, passed by Congress in 1916. Sponsored by Sen. John W. Kern

John W. Kern

John Worth Kern was a Democratic United States Senator from Indiana. While the title was not official, he is considered to be the first Senate Majority leader , while serving concurrently as Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.Born in Alto, Indiana, Kern studied law at the University of...

(D) of Indiana and Rep. Daniel J. McGillicuddy (D) of Maine, it established an all-purpose protection program for Federal civilian employees and their dependents in the event of injury or death. This act granted assistance to federal civil service

Civil service

The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....

 employees during periods of disability. This act became the precedent for “Disability Insurance

Disability insurance

Disability Insurance, often called DI or disability income insurance, is a form of insurance that insures the beneficiary's earned income against the risk that a disability will make working uncomfortable , painful , or impossible...

” across the country.