A workers compensation claim can be filed regardless of the location where the injury happens. When an injury occurs, the insurer will want to know what the employee was doing at the time of injury, when the injury happened, and where.
If your employees telecommute or work anywhere off-site, it is important to consider the hazards of those work environments—even if that location is the person’s home.
Many businesses that have telecommuters have implemented a telecommuting policy, outlining guidelines for home office and designated work areas, as well as defining fixed hours and breaks. Having such a policy will help to defend the employer in the event of an employee injury and can eliminate liability if the employee is injured outside the scope outlined in the policy.
Employers should also consider an on-site home office visit to establish that the employee’s office setup is sufficiently safe. That may include taking pictures of it and granting coverage for specific workstation areas only.
