Workers Compensation Insurance: Are Employees Working From Home Still Covered?

​As some outdated laws ill-fit the work-from-home setup, employers might struggle to address some questions. Among the queries that employers have is about insurance, specifically workers’ compensation insurance. So, are employees working from home still covered? 

The Closest to an Answer
The closest to an answer employers can get is that, most likely, employees are covered. Workers’ compensation laws differ by state. However, most states mandate that employers are liable for work-related injuries regardless of where they happened. In essence, this covers home as a workplace for telecommuting employees. 

On the contrary, when employees get injured outside the course of undertaking their duties, they are not covered. It pretty much spells out work-from-home employees are covered depending on whether they were injured while doing their jobs.

Managing Potential Claims
Accidents happen anytime and anywhere, even at home. To help employers manage exposure to injury claims from their telecommuting employees, here are some tips to follow:

Ask for Written Authorization
Before letting employees work from home, employers must ask them to submit written authorization. 

Keep Accurate Records
Ensure that employee records, such as job descriptions and expectations, are updated and accurate. Employers should also check if employees have a complete understanding of their responsibilities even when working from home. 

Know Their Home Office Setup
Employers should require employees to define their workplace area at home clearly. This way, employers can also provide safety training and information aligned with their in-office guidelines.

Provide Safety Guidelines
In addition to a designated workplace area at home, employers should also provide safety checklists for employees to follow. It shows employees simple do’s and don’ts when working at home, thus minimizing accident risks.

Remind Employees About Safety Policies
Working from home, employees might overlook the safety and workers’ compensation policies they would otherwise follow at the office. Employers should remind them of these policies and their duty to report work-related injuries to appropriate personnel.

Time In, Time Out, and Breaks
Besides serving for payroll purposes, employees should also submit daily time records for insurance purposes. It should show the time they started and ended work and took personal breaks.   

Conclusion
As the pandemic demands more work-from-home setup, employers might still receive workers’ compensation claims from telecommuting employees. Knowing the best practices can help them minimize the occurrence of work-related injuries at home.  
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At Pro Financials & Insurance Services, we do our best in making sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. We make sure to go the extra mile to help you with your needs. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (708) 233-8870 or Click Here to request a free quote.