Injured While Working from Home?
Millions of companies introduced remote working policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, a substantial proportion of companies are making work-from-home arrangements permanent. For employees, this often means a better work-life balance, reduced costs, and the avoidance of a lengthy, daily commute, but there can be some drawbacks too.
For example, many people are unaware of how homeworking affects their rights as an employee. Furthermore, a significant number of employers are unsure how far their liability extends when staff are working remotely.
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What Constitutes a ‘Workplace Injury’?
When you experience an injury at your place of work, it’s highly likely that you’ll be able to obtain some form of compensation. Generally, employees are eligible to claim workers’ compensation for a workplace injury, regardless of who is at fault. Alternatively, if your employer has been negligent and this contributed to the accident, you could make a compensation claim against them directly.
However, a ‘workplace injury’ doesn’t actually have to occur on your employer’s premises. Instead, workers’ compensation is typically available for injuries or illnesses that occur during the ‘course and scope of your employment.
So, if your job role involves leaving the workplace on a regular basis, your employer is still liable for injuries or illnesses that you experience due to your work. Using the same principle, it’s clear that this can extend to homeworkers too.
What Kind of Injuries Can Happen at Home?
Many people assume that you’ll be safer when working at home, but this isn’t always the case. Working from home could put you at increased risk of repetitive strain injuries, particularly if your desk is at the wrong height or you don’t have a suitable office chair to provide the support you need.
While you won’t be able to claim compensation for any and all injuries that occur at home, you may be entitled to compensation if you can show that an injury is related to your duties as an employee. If you are hurt due to faulty equipment supplied by your employer, for example, you are likely to be able to obtain compensation.
Making a Claim for a Work-From-Home Injury
If you’ve been injured in the course of your duties or you’ve been diagnosed with an illness that has been caused by your work, seeking advice from a personal injury lawyer should be a top priority. Even if you were working at home at the time you were injured or became unwell, experienced personal injury attorneys, like R&B law firm, can help you to determine whether you’re eligible to take legal action.
What’s more – working with a personal injury law firm allows you to focus on your recovery, rather than handling the complexities of your claim. With a talented attorney on your side, you can be confident that your claim will have the best chance of success. However, there are time limits when it comes to making a personal injury compensation claim, so don’t delay if you want to ensure you obtain the compensation you’re entitled to.
