Workers Comp at a work event?  Say it ain't so!

Did you know that workers comp laws often still apply at work-sponsored events?  It's true!  As employee morale has become a priority in the workplace, more and more companies are looking for new and exciting work events.  The current trend is physical activities such as trampoline parks, roller skating, or zip lining.  But if your employee sustains an injury while engaging in these activities, your company can still be held liable.  The following factors should be considered for any work event.

Are employees required to attend?

If employees are required to attend or if the event occurs during regular working hours then the event is going to be covered by workers compensation.  Even if the event occurs outside normal working hours and is mandatory then all employees must be paid for their time.  For clarity, what does it mean for an event to be considered mandatory?  If there is any kind of negative repercussion for not attending such as losing pay then the event would be considered mandatory.

Is the activity inherently dangerous?

Extracurricular work activities can be great for morale but if they are mandatory events, please weigh the fun and danger factors.  Generally speaking if the activity requires safety gear then it isn't a good idea to have it be a mandatory work event.  We want employees to bond and have a good time but also want to engage in activities that minimize the chance for an injury.

 The following are examples of activities that are too dangerous:

1. Paintball

2. Horseback riding

3. Go kart racing

Instead try:

1. Escape rooms

2. Frozen yogurt

3. Trivia games

Reflect on your workers comp coverage:

This topic isn't meant to discourage you from engaging in morale boosting work activities, but rather to remind you to be considerate of the potential liabilities from mandatory events.  Be creative but be safe!  What better time than now to review your current policies and procedures for when a worker’s comp claim arises. 

Know your workers comp essentials:

When a worker’s comp injury occurs you don’t want to be in a scramble trying to figure out what to do on the spot.  Review your current policy and procedures and make sure that you are ready to answer the following three things:

 1.      What is my current workers comp insurance agency and how do I contact them?

2.      Do I know which clinic to send my injured employee to?

3.       Are all the forms that I need readily available?

This is a friendly reminder of how important it is to remain current on workers comp situations.  If you would like help, you can always reach out to us here at Platinum HR Consulting Group where we can guide you through the entire process. Would you like to be added to our email list to receive our HR blog regularly? Just contact us:

657-888-3648 www.platinumhrcg.com lisa@platinumhrcg.com