The recent surge in remote work has transformed employment in the United States, with millions of employees now calling their homes their primary workspaces. This shift brings new questions about employee benefits and protections, particularly when it comes to work-related injuries. For Minnesota’s growing remote workforce, one crucial question stands out: Does workers’ compensation coverage extend to injuries that happen while working from home?
When many people think of workplace injuries, they usually imagine factory accidents or falls at construction sites. However, remote workers face unique hazards, even while working from home. These may include:
Your right to workers’ compensation benefits doesn’t disappear simply because you work from home. Minnesota law protects remote workers just as it does traditional office employees. This means that if you were injured while working from home, you can likely file a claim and recover benefits to pay for medical care, short-term wage replacement, and even long-term disability.
However, proving that an injury occurred during work-related activities can become more complex in a home setting, where personal and professional lives often overlap. It is important to consult with a Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney to determine whether you are eligible for a claim.
Understanding what injuries qualify for workers’ compensation when working remotely can be complex. Many common workplace injuries remain covered by workers’ compensation insurance—as long as they occur during work hours and within the scope of employment.
Injuries that typically qualify for coverage include accidents in your designated workspace, such as tripping over computer cords or slipping on work-related materials. Back injuries from company-provided or approved office furniture generally qualify, as do vision problems from extended computer use in poor lighting conditions. Even injuries that occur during brief breaks, such as getting burned while making coffee or falling on the way to the bathroom, may be covered.
However, not all injuries that happen during work hours qualify for benefits. Workers’ compensation generally won’t cover injuries while taking extended personal breaks, such as exercising or cooking an elaborate meal in your kitchen. Injuries that happen while using work equipment for personal tasks on weekends or after hours usually do not qualify, nor do accidents that occur in unauthorized work locations, such as a coffee shop.
If you have suffered an injury while working remotely, do not let uncertainty about your rights prevent you from seeking the benefits you deserve. A Minneapolis workers’ compensation lawyer can evaluate your case, help document the work-related nature of your injury, and fight for your right to medical care and wage replacement benefits.
After seeking medical care, contact an attorney at KSK Law to schedule a free consultation and plan your path to compensation.
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