Workers’ Compensation And Telecommuting

The purpose of workers’ compensation insurance is to pay for the time a person loses because of a work-related injury. As technology develops, the workplace has come to cover many more places than a company’s location. It’s now common for people to telecommute to work every day. Many employees are curious what happens if they have an injury while they are telecommuting. Worker’s comp in Arlington and the surrounding areas was designed to cover an injury someone experiences during the course of his or her employment. They must be doing some type of work for their employer at the time of the accident or injury. This covers telecommuting.

Telecommuting

According to a recent study over 83 percent of workers in the United States telecommute to their jobs at least once a month. Approximately 25 percent do it every week. It is so popular that over 40 percent of companies have policies regarding telecommuting. This means the majority of people who telecommute to work are covered under their employers’ workers compensation insurance. It is possible for a person to get a work-related injury even if they work at a desk.

Telecommuting Injuries

There are a number of benefits associated with telecommuting. People are able to avoid facing a stressful commute to and from work, office politics as well as having a boss close by and more. It’s believed the risk for a work injury is lower in a home office than in a factory, mine, mill or even an office building. There are some injuries that are common with individuals who telecommute. These workers often have back injuries and suffer from repetitive strain problems. They must deal with slip and fall accidents in Dallas, unforeseen home emergencies and more.

Employer Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of an employer to provide a safe work environment. This applies to telecommuters as well as employees who work at a company’s location. There are some things an employer can do to limit their exposure to workers’ compensation claims from employees. They can create a telecommuting work policy. It should detail the employer’s expectations for their telecommuting employees. Make certain the right employee is permitted to telecommute. These are individuals who can meet working standards without constant supervision. They are mature and have self-discipline. A company should also establish guidelines for working at home. They should require a telecommuter to have a designated work area in their home. The employee should receive adequate training for workstation setup, safety measures to be followed such as ergonomics and more. A company may want to periodically check the home office of an employee. The purpose can be to see if there are any work safety hazards. The company can then work to eliminate them.

Law Offices Of David Kohm

When a person feels they’ve had a workplace injury, they should report it to their employer immediately. Doing it in writing is best. Provide as much documentation as possible. An employer should provide workers’ comp claim forms to be completed and returned. If an employer does not do this, doesn’t properly submit a worker’s claim, it may be time to speak with an attorney. The legal professionals at the Law Offices of David Kohm will know how to get the workers’ compensation benefits a telecommuter deserves. Contact us today and learn more.