Workers’ compensation claims are relatively easy to handle for injuries or illnesses sustained within an employer’s premises.
However, what happens to remote employees injured while on the job? Although remote work has myriad benefits for employers and employees, workers’ compensation remains tricky. The situation gets more problematic as Americans continue to embrace remote working.
As a remote worker, you need to take a fresh look at your workers’ compensation coverage since you bear the burden of proving your injury occurred during work. Luckily, Illinois is among the states that require employers to provide workers’ compensation cover to remote employees. Here is what you can do to improve your chances of receiving a fair settlement for work-related injuries as a remote employee.
1. Document All Remote or Home Office Inspections
Employers should review workplace safety with regard to remote working. Typically, insurers assess the workplace environment to determine risk levels. Therefore, employers should do the same for remote workers, especially in home offices, even though OSHA does not require at-home workplace inspections.
The primary objective of an inspection is to determine if the remote environment is safe and suitable for work. Most importantly, you should document the assessment and keep a copy. A thorough inspection should examine your remote workspace lighting, equipment, and furniture conditions. It is easy to validate your injury claims if you document and keep a copy of your home office inspections.
2. Designate a Workspace
Increased flexibility is one of the key benefits of working remotely. For instance, you can work from your living room, bedroom, or even your balcony. However, the flexibility makes it challenging to prove you sustained an injury from a work-related task if you lack a designated work area in your home. The reason is that certain sections of your home have a higher risk level.
According to personal injury lawyers, a dedicated work area significantly reduces the risk of injuries. Furthermore, a designated home office improves focus, which is vital in minimizing distractions and accidents. Therefore, create a dedicated office if you work remotely since connecting your injury to the workspace will be easy.
3. Adhere to Remote Workplace Safety Guidelines
You are more likely to receive workers’ compensation benefits if you adhere to workplace safety programs, regardless of the nature of your job. However, such adherence is more critical if you are a remote worker due to the lack of supervision. Generally, employers assume that remote employees observe all safety guidelines.
Adherence to safety guidelines eliminates negligence on your part, which is vital when seeking compensation benefits in case of an injury. For example, remote employees can lose their claim if they go against an employer’s safety policy regarding lifting heavy packages. Therefore, the best approach is to customize remote working safety guidelines with your employer for clarity.
4. Track and Record Hours Virtually
Workers’ compensation insurance covers injuries sustained when performing work-related tasks within work hours. Therefore, claiming compensation for workplace accidents outside designated hours, besides special missions, can be tricky.
The issue mainly affects remote workers who do not track or record working hours. A lawyer will struggle to convince your employer and insurer that an accident happened during regular work hours if you do not track or keep such records.
Tracking and recording work hours virtually help create a timeline of your activities when working remotely. The records allow your attorney to establish the exact moment you got injured. Therefore, a virtual assistant working from home should clock in and out to track work hours. A lawyer can use the data to prove that you sustained injuries during work hours.
Workers’ compensation insurance covers remote workers as it does traditional employees. However, claiming compensation for injuries sustained while working remotely can be tricky. Contact us for a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation claims for remote workers.
