Workers’ Comp and Telecommuting

BusinessManagementDaily.com recently posted an interesting question: do workers’ comp laws apply if an employee is injured while working in his home and using his own equipment?

According to the article, this is possible if the employee is injured while acting in the course and scope of his employment. It mentioned the case of a woman who was injured when she fell down the stairs to her basement home office while talking on the phone to her supervisor. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court said she injured herself in the course and scope of her employment because she was engaged in furthering the employer’s business at the time she was injured.

Technology has really changed the way we do business. Many companies are allowing employees to work from home as a way of reducing overhead expenses. But with these changes in the way we work come changes in the way companies may view injuries that happen on the job. And sometimes they are more interested in not accepting financial responsibility when an employee is injured. It can be difficult to navigate the workers’ comp process alone. If you are injured on the job, contact the workers’ comp attorneys at O’Connor Law. We’re on your side.