Over the past six years, there has been a significant change in the way people work. Instead of going to the office, many individuals are now working remotely from their homes.
Regardless of whether an employee works from home or an office, employers are responsible for ensuring that they remain safe while performing their job duties and are protected from any potential work-related injuries.
According to Insureon “Injuries are only covered by workers’ compensation if they happen “in the scope and course of employment” or “in furtherance of employment.” In other words, the remote employee has to demonstrate that the harm they sustained happened at work and was a direct result of carrying out their assigned duties.
What to do if you are injured while working at home
Remote workers may still have access to workers’ compensation, but it can be challenging to prove that damages are job-related. Thus, the burden of proof falls on the remote worker.
If you are injured while working from home, it’s important to do the following:
- Contact your employer immediately
- Document the injury that occurred
- Document what you were doing when the injury occurred
Once your employer has gathered all the required information, they will submit the claim to the workers’ compensation adjuster of the company. It is the adjuster’s responsibility to determine whether or not the issue is related to your work. What matters most is how the injury happened, not where it happened—at home or at work. The adjuster will, therefore, probably want to ask you a few questions.
Sometimes gathering the necessary evidence regarding your claim can be tricky. You may want to speak with a legal advisor who can help you prove your workers’ compensation claim.
