Employees who are injured in a work-related activity may wonder if they are eligible for workers compensation under certain circumstances. For example, a man or woman might contact a Workers Compensation Lawyer in Green Bay WI to ask about eligibility if the injury happened at a workplace party. Perhaps the supervisor has said this type of situation does not qualify.
Mandatory vs. Voluntary Attendance
If attending the party was completely voluntary or was not presented as an aspect of compensation, then an injured employee probably is ineligible for workers comp. That’s true even if the party took place on the worksite. However, if attendance was mandatory, it should be considered part of normal work-related duties. Even if management or supervisors just strongly encourage employees to attend, that can be a factor in the employee’s favor as well.
A Form of Compensation
In regard to the party representing a form of compensation, this would probably be considered a significant motivating factor in attending. A Workers Compensation Lawyer in Green Bay WI would want to learn more about the type of benefit the gathering is presented as. Is it an employee benefit because all attendees receive a gift card? Do they all receive another type of gift that is at least somewhat valuable?
Who Was Negligent?
Another issue will be whether the employee was injured because of negligence on the part of the building owner or those hosting the event. Even if the employee was required to attend, the workers comp insurance company may dispute the claim if the individual was noticeably intoxicated. However, if this individual had consumed a moderate amount of alcohol and then slipped on water from melted ice that should have been mopped up, there may be a valid case.
Free Legal Consultations
Other than mandatory attendance, many of the factors fall into a gray area. Organizations such as Brabazon Law Office LLC typically offer free consultations, so an injured person should not hesitate to call for an appointment. A lawyer can provide insight as to whether this employee has a reasonable case or not under the circumstances. Click Here to get started.
