Understanding which injuries your workers’ compensation might cover, adapting your safety program and updating your claims reporting process can help your organization handle injury claims more efficiently in the age of remote work.

What counts as a work-related injury at home?

It’s important to understand that employee injuries at home may be covered by workers’ compensation.

However, determining precisely what is a work-related injury at home can be tricky. That’s because every state has its own laws and interpretations of each injury claim.

In general, to have a compensable claim that is accepted by your company’s workers’ compensation carrier, the employee has to be in the course and scope of their job and the accident has to arise out of their job-related activities. For example:

• An employee having a busy day at the computer who feels a strain in their shoulder or elbow at day’s end may have a compensable claim, depending on the state, because they can claim they were injured while doing their job.

• For the same reason, an employee who has a work-related package delivered to their home, lifts it and hurts their back may have a claim.

Not every injury that happens at home during work hours may result in a successful workers’ compensation claim, though.

• A remote employee who gets up for a coffee, trips on their pet on the way to the kitchen and gets injured may not have a valid claim. This kind of situation can present a gray area and could end up being decided in court.

• An at-home employee who takes a work break for a treadmill run and gets hurt while running will likely not be able to claim workers’ compensation for their injury.

It’s important to keep in mind that it’s not up to the employer to determine whether an injured employee has a valid claim. Each workers’ compensation claim is subject to an investigation that complies with state employment law.

How can your organization promote workplace safety when your people are remote?

Fewer injuries means fewer workers’ compensation claims, which is why most organizations build workplace safety programs.

One challenge when your workforce – or even just a few employees – shifts to remote work is that your carefully crafted workplace safety program may not be applicable to employees at home.

For example, administrative employees working in a doctor’s office or a research library may face hazards related to accessing and moving paper records, so their safety program is focused on best lifting practices in the office. But when those employees are accessing records remotely from home, the risk landscape changes...

Source: Insperity