California has a large number of people who work from home at least part time and there are some people in California that work exclusively from home. The telecommuting option is especially nice for people who live in cities like San Diego that do not have to deal with commuting to larger cities for work. Working from home is becoming more and more common with technological advances and as a result, we are seeing more and more cases of people being injured while they are working at home. And the first question we are often asked is: Does workers’ compensation cover injuries for people who work from home? Our answer is often, but not always, yes.
Mutual benefits of employees working remotely
Employers see benefits to allowing employees to work from home and they often encourage them to do so because they typically see happier, more productive employees and lower overhead due to fewer employees on site. Employees see many benefits as well including working from the comforts of home and wearing whatever they are comfortable in. It is also sometimes a nice option for people with disabilities who struggle with rides or public transportation or necessary workplace accommodations. Another great benefit is saving money. Studies have shown that telecommuters save money by working from home for different reasons including not having to pay for gasoline or public transportation for the commute, not eating out for lunch as often, and not having to hire after school child care.
Workers’ compensation for the telecommuter
If you have been injured while working from home, contact the San Diego work injury attorneys at Hiden, Rott & Oertle LLP to schedule a consultation. When we review the facts of your case we will ask you a number of questions including the following:
- What were you doing when you sustained your injury?
- Were you working at the time you sustained your injury?
- Do you have any proof that you were working such as employee monitoring software? You do not necessarily need proof, but supporting evidence can be helpful to your case.
- Does your employer have a work from home policy that addresses work from home parameters, expectations, hours, and safety measures?
- What was the cause of your injury?
- Did your injury occur during regular business hours or at a time when you are typically working or expected to be working?
- Are you an independent contractor? Independent contractors are not usually covered by workers’ compensation policies.
If you have been injured while you were working, regardless of where you were physically located at the time, contact our San Diego work injury attorneys to review your claim. There are steps that must be followed in order to properly file a workers compensation claim and our work injury experts at Hiden, Rott & Oertle LLP will help you file the claim and work on any necessary appeals in the event that your claim is denied. If you were injured on the job, you deserve to be compensated for your resulting injuries.