Workers' Compensation For Remote Employees — What You Should Know

An employee injury or illness may be compensable under workers’ compensation if it arises out of and in the course of employment, regardless of where the employee is when the injury occurs.

The remote employee will have to provide their employer (and insurance company) with a statement that what they were doing at the time of the injury and details of when the injury occurred – and will have to show that he/she was acting in the interest of the employer when the injury happened.

When employers have remote employees, it is a good for them to create and execute a remote/telecommuting policy outlining the guidelines and expectations for their home office.

NOTE: Workers’ compensation laws vary by state, and employers are encouraged to work with their workers’ compensation carriers, HR team, or legal counsel to determine strategies to manage workers’ compensation risks for their telecommuters.