Everyone knows that if you are injured at work, then you can file a workers’ compensation claim. But what if you are injured while working from home? Are you entitled to the same protections? Can you even recover workers’ compensation? This post will go over the nuance of working from home and the extent of your coverage.

Telecommuting is becoming more and more common, especially as the Internet grows more robust and reliable. Telecommuting is a process that allows some people to work from home and access their work files. But as more people work from home, it opens up new legal issues that were not previously considered. For instance, are you entitled to workers’ compensation for injuries incurred at home while on the job?

The short answer is yes; you have a right to compensation anytime you are injured on the job. But the extent of your compensation depends on your state’s law. If you are injured, you should consult with an attorney to go over the language in the statute. But, preliminarily, there are two types of workers’ compensation systems. One system that is expansive and covers you whenever you work for your employer, at home or at the office. And one system that is restrictive, that covers you when you work for the benefit of your employer.

Some telecommuters can run amok in the second system because working from home may not be for your employer’s benefit but your own. You would need to show that your employer required you to work from home, a difficult burden to reach.

If you were severely injured while working from home, you might want to contact an attorney. As you can see, filing a workers’ compensation claim for an at-home injury is not as clear-cut as it would be if you were in the office. A lawyer can go over the nature of your work accident and advise you of the best way to pursue compensation. You don’t need to figure this out alone; a lawyer can assist you.