With so many people working from home, the lines between the workplace and the comfort of our homes can blur. One of the challenges of this happens if you sustain an on-the-job injury. If you work from your Florida home and are injured, you may face more challenges than traditional workers in getting your rightful workers’ compensation benefits.
At Flaxman Law Group, we recognize the importance of protecting remote workers in Florida. It’s one reason why we offer free, no obligation and no risk consultations to any worker who is injured. If you’re a telecommuting worker and are injured or diagnosed with an occupational illness, contact Flaxman Law Group for a no-cost, no obligation case consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer in our Miami, Hollywood, or Homestead offices.
Remote Work and Workers’ Compensation in Florida
Many employees want the flexibility of working from home. However, transforming living spaces into home offices also introduces a new set of risks. Whether it’s a slip and fall on your staircase, an ergonomic injury from improper workstation setup, or repetitive strain injury from hours spent working, remote employment comes with its own array of potential hazards.
The question of whether injuries sustained within the confines of your home qualify for workers’ compensation often hinges on the circumstances of the injury. Generally, to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Florida, the injury must have occurred while performing work-related duties within the scope of employment.
For example, if you burn yourself when making lunch, this may not count as a work-related injury. If you suffer from a repetitive strain injury from work-related typing, this may be eligible for workers’ comp benefits. It can be very difficult to tell what is and isn’t an eligible injury when you’re working from home, so you may want to consult with a Hollywood workers’ compensation lawyer or an attorney in your community after an injury, to determine if you’re qualified.
There are other reasons why these workers’ compensation claims can be more complicated and why you might want to contact an experienced attorney:
- Remote workers may be misclassified as independent contractors, which makes them ineligible for workers’ compensation.
- There may be third-party liable parties involved, such as negligent manufacturers of home equipment and office furniture
- There may be a delay in reporting your injury because you’re not in the same space as your employer
- There are likely no witnesses to your injury
- If you work non-traditional hours, insurers may claim injuries that occurred outside of traditional hours are not covered
- You may not realize you’re eligible for benefits if you work from home
- Your homeowners’ insurance may be a factor and you may be dealing with two insurers, depending on the situation
- You may have purchased your own office furniture and may not know whether injuries related to your use of your office are covered
For all these reasons, navigating workers’ compensation claims can be complicated. If you find yourself facing an injury sustained while working remotely, reach out to Flaxman Law Group today to discuss ways you may be able to secure the compensation you rightfully deserve. You can call us at 866-352-9626 or contact us online. Our phone lines are staffed 24/7 and we have offices in Hollywood, Miami, and Homestead to make sure injured workers across Southern Florida always have someone they can contact.