Seattle, WA – ODG by MCG recently announced the release of a new white paper from its VP of Government Affairs, Patrick F. Robinson, JD, MBA, that discusses the impact of remote working on the workers’ compensation industry.
Key areas of discussion include:
Predictions on the rate of telework post-COVID
As of April 2022, almost 10% of U.S. employees continued to work from home, and BLS analysts predict the rate of telework will remain high relative to pre-pandemic levels:
“Teleworking rates have fallen from their height at the start of the pandemic but are nevertheless well above their level before the pandemic. High telework rates in jobs that are well suited for working at home will undoubtedly remain, as workers realize the advantages they offer – especially reduced commuter time – and as employers learn that they can cater to these
preferences at little or no cost.”
Discussion of court cases that have touched on injuries in “home offices”
Employees have worked from home offices for years, albeit in lower numbers. Never has the mere locus of an accident been the trigger for compensability. Rather, the Grand Bargain has traditionally considered whether an accident—wherever it happens—occurred “in the course of and arising from” employment. Jurists acknowledged as much for years prior to the current wave of remote workers.
New state legislation which specifically defines injuries for workers’ compensation in remote work
One state has adopted workers’ compensation legislation specifically directed toward remote work. Ohio House Bill 447, passed and enrolled in June 2022, adds the following language to the definition of “Injury”.
Download the whitepaper: ODG by MCG: The Impact of Remote Working on Workers’ Compensation
Source: ODG by MCG