Many Pennsylvania employers are shifting more of their employees to remote working environments. Not only does it help to save on utility costs for the business, but it also grants employees the freedom to work from their homes. One big concern that many newly remote workers have is whether or not they are still eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
The short answer is yes
In short, workers’ compensation benefits are available for injuries that happen to remote workers in their home environment. However, not every type of injury is covered. Whether or not an injury is covered depends on the specific circumstances revolving around the injury and how the state interprets the particular type of injury claim.
In general, an injury that happens at home may be covered under workers’ compensation in the event that the employee was in the course and scope of their job-related activities. For example, if an employee working remotely on a computer feels a strain in their wrists throughout the day, it may be a compensable injury. In the event that a remote worker tripped over their own dog while on the way to their kitchen to get lunch, their injury will likely not be covered.
What to do if you’re injured at home while working remotely?
As with any workers’ compensation claim, it’s important that you start by notifying your supervisor as soon as possible. If your injury is severe, be sure to seek medical attention immediately. You’ll want to work with your employer to file your workers’ compensation claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait to file a claim, the higher your risk of denial will be.
While the working environment for many workers has changed, that doesn’t mean that their workers’ compensation benefits have changed at all. Rather, remote workers who are still within their scope of work-related tasks can enjoy the many benefits that workers’ compensation has to offer them.