Lines between work and home have been blurred as more and more companies are ditching their offices for work from home life. Working from home can be convenient, but it’s also making California residents ask about what will happen if they’re injured while on the job.
How it used to work
When companies work from offices and buildings, workers’ compensation is clear cut. Did they get injured on company property? If the answer is yes, it’s most likely going to be covered under workers’ compensation and the employer is going to be held responsible.
This extended to injuries that came as a result of the job as well, like carpal tunnel and other injuries that can happen over time when you’re working at the same place. While it was a little harder to prove that the injury was just because of the work they were doing, you still saw your employee at their desk all day.
How does workers’ compensation work now in work from home?
Unfortunately, if you fall down your stairs at home while on the clock and get injured, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to file for workers’ compensation. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It’s just a lot harder to prove.
What about injuries that can result as a side effect of the work you’re doing? If you start to develop carpel tunnel after working from home on your laptop, you might still have a case. It would just be harder to prove, but not impossible if your company has been tracking the hours you’ve worked.
What if I have a workers’ compensation case?
If you believe that you have a workers’ compensation case while working from home, reach out to an attorney. Hard to prove doesn’t mean impossible, so it’s worth investigating.
