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Non-Business Exemptions

The workers' compensation system was designed to provide benefits to those employees who are injured in the course of employment. However, not all "employments" are considered to be within the contemplation of the system. By way of contrast, consider the factory worker who cuts his hand while working on an assembly line making car parts for the employer and the teenage boy who cuts his hand trimming hedges for his neighbor. Both the factory worker and the teenage boy were "employed" to perform a service for another. However, workers' compensation would only be applicable to the factory worker's injury. Other examples where resulting injuries would likely not qualify for workers' compensation, even though the individuals were paid for their services, include a housecleaner hired to perform a one-time spring cleaning on your home, a babysitter who cares for a young child on a weekend evening, and a mechanic friend who helps to fix a broken vehicle.

Employee Detours and Deviations From Business Trip

Employees may be called upon by their employer to travel for a business purpose. Such travel is generally considered to be in the course of employment and, if injured, the employee will be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. However, if the employee deviates from the business trip route for a personal reason, he will not be covered by workers' compensation until he returns to the business trip route. Notably, if the deviation is basically inconsequential, the employee may still recover benefits if injured on the minor detour.

Recreational and Social Activities

Within the Course of Employment)

Correlation Between Workers' Compensation and Social Security Disability Benefits

Workers' compensation and social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits both aim to help disabled individuals by providing funds for income replacement. Though similar in purpose, the programs diverge in their criteria for the receipt of benefits. Eligibility for workers' compensation benefits requires that the individual be an employee who was injured on the job. In contrast, SSDI benefits are only issued to those individuals who are so severely disabled by a medically determinable impairment that they cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity. Additionally, to be declared eligible for SSDI benefits, an individual must have worked long enough to be "insured" and must not have reached a certain age.

Injury From Usual Exertion or Exposure Concept

"Injury From Usual Exertion or Exposure" Concept)