Am I Still Covered By Workers’ Compensation If I’m Working From Home?
Bryan Greenberg
Workers’ Compensation
Since the outbreak of COVID back in March, as a measure of safety, many employers implemented new work from home policies. Sadly, employees can still be injured outside of the office. This has led many to wonder if they’ve sustained an injury as the result of work, will they still be protected by workers’ compensation insurance if they are working from home. Here is everything you need to know about workers’ compensation when you work from home. Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Home Office Injuries?
Workers’ compensation laws are pretty straightforward in the state of Florida. If you are employed at a company with four or more employees, working part time or full time, but are not a contractor, you are protected by workers’ compensation. Working from home or the office has no impact on whether or not you are qualified. So if you are injured during work hours as a result of your work, then you are protected. However, if you simply injure yourself while at home say working out on your lunch break, you are not covered.
Considerations For At Home Workers
Although you are covered, if you file a workers’ compensation claim when you are working from home there are some considerations you must keep in mind. First, you will need to follow the standard protocol of reporting injuries. So if your company has specific documents you must complete, then you will still have to fill those documents out. Secondly, since you are working from home it may be a little difficult to prove the injury was the result of your work since you are unlikely to have any witnesses. With this in mind, it is very important that you see a physician right away so that you can link your injuries to your work. That way if there are any doubts, you have proof that the injuries were work-related.
What Injuries Are Covered By Workers’ Compensation?
There’s an idea that workers’ compensation is primarily for people who work jobs that are physically intense. For example, people doing physical labor at construction sites. However, workers’ compensation covers all injuries that are a result of work, that includes injuries that can occur from a more sedentary job like carpal tunnel, eye damage, and other overuse injuries. The type of injury does not matter as much when it comes to workers’ compensation as the injury being a result of working.
How Do I File A Workers’ Compensation Claim?
When you work from home, you will file your workers’ compensation claim using the same process as if you were in the office. You will first notify your employer and seek medical attention. Then your employer will provide you with the paperwork you are required to fill out. Next, your employer will file the claim with the insurance company. In most cases, your claim will be reviewed and you will receive compensation for your injuries. However, there are case where an insurance company will deny a legitimate workers’ compensation claim. In those cases your best bet is to work with a workers’ compensation attorney.
Whether you were injured at the office, at home, or on a jobsite, you are still protected by workers’ compensation. However, sometimes employers and insurance companies will deny your right to fair compensation. In those cases, the knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorneys at All Injuries Law Firm can help. For over 30 years, we’ve been fighting for workplace injury victims to get fair compensation for their injuries and we can fight for you no matter where you work. Give us a call at 1-941-625-HURT to learn more.