More and more people are working from home. It’s become increasingly easy to do so if you have a job that largely involves working on a computer and/or being on the phone. Aside from a sore back from the less than ergonomically ideal choice of using the kitchen table, sofa or floor as a work area, most people don’t suffer injuries during their workdays at home.
But what if you do? Will workers’ compensation cover your medical bills and lost wages? It depends on the specific circumstances surrounding the injury.
Has your employer developed guidelines for remote employees?
Georgia, like just about every other state, allows workers’ comp benefits for employees who suffer injuries while they’re working, regardless of where they are. Some employers develop guidelines for employees to follow when working from home that can eliminate questions over whether an injury was indeed work related. These can include things like:
- Defined work hours
- Defined job duties
- Designation of a work area within the home (or elsewhere)
- Specified equipment that’s being used
- Safety measures such as using a proper desk and chair
However, many companies that only recently started having a number of employees working remotely haven’t done that.
Details matter
So what happens if your chair tips over one day and you hit your head on the hardwood floor? What if you go to the kitchen to make a smoothie, and on the way back to your desk you trip over a rug and break your shoulder?
The details will determine whether you can receive workers’ comp. If you suffered the injury in the course of your workday and your home is your workplace, your injury may be compensable. If your employer has given people the option to work remotely or your job is designated as a remote position (like many customer service representative jobs are), then you were in your designated workplace.
If your workers’ comp claim has been denied following an injury you suffered while working at home, don’t give up. Talk with an attorney who will give your case the personalized attention it deserves. Call us at 912-289-0640 or contact our office online.
