The rise of the gig economy and other circumstances have increased the number of employers permitting staff to work from home. While working from home offers many benefits to an employee, it creates some challenges in regards to workplace injuries. Traditionally, such injuries are defined and confined to work performed during specific hours and on a specific job site.
However, with the freedom and flexibility of working from home, employees may not stick to strict hourly schedules and might not have a work-specific zone in their home. Therefore, if an injury occurs in the house of an employee, what specifies it as a workplace accident, and how is an employer to know.
Getting injured in the workplace can be a traumatic experience and you deserve to be properly compensated. A workers’ comp lawyer can help you file a timely claim and protect your legal rights.
Getting injured in the workplace can be a traumatic experience and you deserve to be properly compensated. A workers’ comp lawyer can help you file a timely claim and protect your legal rights.
The Burden of Proof
Unfortunately, for most at-home employees, not contracted workers, the burden of proof rests on their shoulders. Most people do not have surveillance videos inside their homes or other employees as witnesses to the mishap. Therefore, the employee is responsible for preserving any evidence of how the injury occurred and how it relates to their job.
While gathering such information might be difficult, it is crucial for the inevitable worker’s compensation interviews to come. You will also want to make sure that you file any and all paperwork and forms correctly, ensuring that no hiccups occur during the processing of your claim.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Most worker’s compensation policies will cover repetitive stress or motion injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome. If you perform the same repetitive task at home that you do when in the office, then it might not be too complicated to prove your case. Most employers will understand with typing-related injuries, but the issues start building up when employees claim more stringent or severe injuries. When an injury is severe, it is necessary to gather evidence to explain how the accident stemmed from performing your occupational duties.
Contact a Lawyer
When a workplace injury occurs at home, it might be a good idea to contact a workers compensation attorney Brooklyn to discuss your options. These legal professionals will have a better idea of the evidence or information you will need to provide for the claims process. If you haven’t done so already for your injury, you should seek medical attention so that a doctor can properly diagnose and treat your injury. Your well-being is most important and seeking justice and compensation from your employer for your injury is the next step.
If you suffered an injury while working from home, or are merely curious about the specifics of worker’s compensation and at-home work, contact a worker’s compensation attorney from a law firm like Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, PC. Contact an attorney for a consultation to discuss your claim or injuries, having a professional with the expertise and legal knowledge will help you better understand your claim and your legal options.