What does "compensation ends" imply in the context of payments to employees?

The concept of "compensation ends" within the realm of workers' compensation typically refers to the termination of disability benefits or other forms of financial support provided to an employee following a workplace injury or illness. In this context, the correct choice indicates that compensation may stop if the employee dies from an unrelated cause. This is significant because workers' compensation benefits are specifically designed to cover work-related injuries and conditions. If an employee passes away due to a condition or event that is not related to their work injury, then the basis for compensation is fundamentally affected, leading to the conclusion that payments would cease.

The other options speak to situations that are not generally how workers' compensation is structured. For instance, payments following a predetermined term would be based on the type of benefit involved and might not apply to ongoing or complex cases stemming from workplace injuries. Similarly, compensation typically continues until the employee reaches maximum medical improvement or returns to work, not necessarily until they die from unrelated causes. The idea that payments would continue if the employee finds new employment may be misleading; if the new job is unrelated to the work injury, then generally the compensation related to the injury is resolved once the employee can work again, though this would depend on specific circumstances and regulations in place.