In this technological age, many employers now support arrangements that allow their employees to work from home. This opportunity to work remotely from home raises the question in the title of this post.
Remote employees seeking workers’ compensation need to prove that their injury arose out of and occurred in the course of their work.
It is possible, however, for an insurer to point to specific details of a given case to deny a claim.
A home-office example
Here’s a hypothetical situation that illustrates the point.
If you work at a desk in your employer’s place of business, you might receive instructions on how to properly set up your work station. Many employers require this, recognizing that proper posture and work practices reduce the chances of repetitive stress injuries and workers’ compensation claims. There might even be an on-site expert to ensure OSHA compliance.
However, home offices are different. OSHA won’t investigate, nor will it expect your employer to do so. At the same time, if your company has a policy establishing work-at-home conditions, failure to comply could put your workers’ compensation coverage in jeopardy.
Do you have questions?
Injuries on the job are a fact of life. And because more people are working from home or telecommuting, injury and illness can happen at any time. To know what your workers’ compensation rights are as a remote worker, consult an attorney with skill in this area of law.
