If I Get Hurt At a Company Event Can I Claim Workers Compensation?

I Got Hurt at My Company Picnic, or Outing – Is that Workers’ Compensation?

Many companies have summer picnics, or social activities, but what happens if you get injured at this summer outing.  Is your injury covered under workers’ compensation?  If you slip and break your ankle because you slid into home plate at the company’s annual summer softball game, there are factors which dictate whether this is workers’ compensation or not.  The workers’ compensation laws of North Carolina and South Carolina construe what is in the course of your employment very broadly.

Factors that come into play for an injury that occurred at the summer outing include:

Whether the party was sponsored, and paid for by your employer.

Whether you were paid wages for attending, and whether attendance was taken.

Whether the party was considered a fringe benefit of employment.

Whether you were required to work if you didn’t go to the outing.

Whether attendance was mandatory, and whether there would be a penalty for not attending, i.e was it really mandatory.

Whether there was a known company custom for attending the outing.

And, whether the purpose of the party was to benefit the employer, such as improving employer/employee relations, and the kind of event where awards were given, and speeches were made that were connected to the company’s work, and that of the employees.

So, if you have been hurt on the job during a company outing, pick up the phone and call Tippens & Zurosky, so we can be your voice, answer all of your questions, and file your claim!  Tippens & Zurosky has knowledgeable, experienced attorneys who can fight for your rights during this often long and difficult workers' compensation process.  Call us toll-free at 877-372-3580, or at 704-343-0018, for a free consultation.  Let us help you!