When you are working from home, if you sustain an injury that arises out of or in the course of your employment or while performing any activity that is connected to your employment, you will be eligible for workers' compensation.
If you have your employer’s permission to work from home, you will be covered if you sustain an injury at home.
If you are working from home but are on a recess break, you are still covered. However, it becomes a grey area when travelling away from your home. If you are travelling for the purposes of work, you will most likely be able to make a claim.
You may be covered by WorkCover for the same types of incidents that would be covered if you were working on your employer’s premises. Although your employer has an obligation to provide you with a safe workplace, they are unable to manage your home environment in the same way they can control their own premises.
An employee is still responsible for looking out for their own safety whether they are in the office or working at home. Contributory negligence is where someone is partly at fault for their own injury. In relation to workers’ compensation, if an employee is injured during a situation where they have failed to eliminate risks, they will be held partially responsible for the accident and this will affect the compensation amount.
If you have further questions please contact us at frank@franklaw.com.au.
This is not legal advice.
Photo by Nicole Honeywill on Unsplash