# Workman's Comp and Injuries At Company Events **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944 "2006-07-18T00:05:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/1 "2006-07-18T00:05:24Z")
My husband’s supervisor was at a company event. It was a schmoozing thing, fun for everyone, and during work hours. He fell going into the place and broke his wrist. When he went to HR to find out how to go about filing a workman’s comp claim, they told him he couldn’t file one because it wasn’t a mandatory event. Is that possible? Can they really do that? This happened in Cook County, IL, if that makes a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/2 "2006-07-18T00:09:33Z")
Details will vary by state, but in general, if he was doing whatever he was doing for some “company pupose”, worker’s comp will likely cover it. However, again depending on state law, in many cases filing a worker’s comp claim gets the person fired. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/3 "2006-07-18T00:40:05Z")
In a recent court decision in my state, a judge denied a woman’s claim for an on the job injury. She had slipped in a restroom and injured her back. The judge ruled that because she was not engaged in an activity that was a required part of her job descripton, she was not eligible for state worker comp. The same reasoning could apply to your husband’s boss. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/4 "2006-07-18T02:19:58Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > However, again depending on state law, in many cases filing a worker’s comp claim gets the person fired. Cite for any state where this is legal? It isn’t in Illinois. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/5 "2006-07-18T02:32:52Z")
> **[Workers' compensation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker%27s_compensation)** > > Workers' compensation or workers' comp is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence. The trade-off between assured, limited coverage and lack of recourse outside the worker compensation system is known as "the compensation bargain.” One of the problems that the compensation bargain solved is the problem... _When employers are required to put injured staff on “light-duties” the employer may simply state that no light duty work exists, and sack the worker as unable to fulfill specified duties_. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/6 "2006-07-18T02:35:55Z")
From the same article linked above: _It is illegal in some states (although not in others) for an employer to terminate an employee for reporting a workplace injury or for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Most states also prohibit refusing employment for having previously filed a workers’ compensation claim. However, employers can consult commercial databases of claims data and it would seem nearly impossible to prove that an employer discriminated against a job applicant because of his or her claims history._ ---
**Author:** ![Marathon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Marathon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marathon)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/7 "2006-07-18T02:46:53Z")
Corporate insurance person here. At my company there’s a standard form for voluntary compensation / employers’ liability in which coverage can be further specialized with specific language according to agreements made between the company and the insured. Literally every one of these forms I’ve seen has had standard fill-in language which specifies coverage for all employees through the course of their employment, including company sponsored athletic and social events. There is _no_ stipulation made regarding whether “company events” must be mandatory. Again, this is only my experience, but it would seem to me that if your husband’s company’s policy is anything like the hundreds of other corporate insurance policies I’ve seen, coverage would apply. Excluding the possibility that the HR person’s knowledge of WC claims is encyclopedic off the top of his/her head (which may very well be the case), I’d say that a little more research into the exact wording of the policy is required, and that your husband should absolutely request that said research be done. I’m not a lawyer, OR an HR person, so standard disclaimers apply. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/8 "2006-07-18T02:49:44Z")
> [@Random](#): > > Cite for any state where this is legal? It isn’t in Illinois. PLEASE talk to an attorney licensed in the appropriate state. I don’t do worker’s comp, but I am part of the employment law department at my employer, which deals with TONS of worker’s comp issues. We just had a monthly teleconference on this very issue a few weeks ago, and case law varies insanely from state to state. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/9 "2006-07-18T03:02:18Z")
**Oakminster** , citation to a wikipedia article that itself lacks citations to authority doesn’t even rise to the level of persuasive authority, let alone evidence of binding authority to support your position. **Kalhoun** , I’ll echo the advice to talk to an attorney licensed in the jurisdiction. You’ve just missed the Chicago Bar’s free [Call-A-Lawyer](http://www.chicagobar.org/public/referral/new.asp#call) July date, but there’s a date in August if your husband’s supervisor wants to call. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/10 "2006-07-18T03:08:38Z")
If it helps, I can recommend a reputable worker’s comp law firm in Chicago (I worked for them one summer in college). Let me know if you’re interested, and I’ll e-mail you. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/11 "2006-07-18T03:10:12Z")
> [@Campion](#): > > **Oakminster** , citation to a wikipedia article that itself lacks citations to authority doesn’t even rise to the level of persuasive authority, let alone evidence of binding authority to support your position. It’s a general article on a law that varies quite a bit from State to State, which happens to be correct. Don’t give a damn if you like it or not. I practice law for a living. What do you do? ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/12 "2006-07-18T03:15:54Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > It’s a general article on a law that varies quite a bit from State to State, which happens to be correct. Don’t give a damn if you like it or not. I practice law for a living. What do you do? I practice law for a living. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/13 "2006-07-18T03:18:46Z")
> [@Campion](#): > > I practice law for a living. Good. Then you understand that I’m not in fucking court, I’m on a messageboard, trying to provide general information on a topic, not advising a client. I’ll accept your apology for the discourteous tone of your response. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/14 "2006-07-18T03:20:43Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I practice law for a living. What do you do? > [@Campion](#): > > I practice law for a living. Heh. Bar fight. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/15 "2006-07-18T03:35:13Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Good. Then you understand that I’m not in fucking court, I’m on a messageboard, trying to provide general information on a topic, not advising a client. I’ll accept your apology for the discourteous tone of your response. No apology has been offered, nor is one forthcoming, for your fundamental lack of understanding of this messageboard, this forum, and my post. Should you continue to offer your opinion about legal matters, and fail to offer a citation to authority when requested, you will find, I believe, that a number of posters here will be more than “discourteous” in tone. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/16 "2006-07-18T03:42:34Z")
I understand just fine. The information I linked to is accurate, and in a format appropriate for providing general information to laymen. Even you haven’t disputed that. So let’s see you produce a cite that says the parts I quoted are wrong. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/17 "2006-07-18T03:43:54Z")
Moderator steps in… Gentlemen. Or Ladies. You are currently in General Questions. Let’s keep it civil. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/18 "2006-07-18T03:57:03Z")
Yo, Campion. This one’s just for you, buddy… [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7589114#post7589114](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7589114#post7589114) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/19 "2006-07-18T05:22:07Z")
Kalhoun, you’re in Illinois? In case your husband’s supervisor is reluctant to seek legal advice, [read this](http://www.chicagolegalnet.com/Workmans%20compensation-Teacher-Benefits.htm). “The Commission held that claimant, who was injured while playing in a student/faculty basketball game, was entitled to benefits, where evidence indicated that the event was promoted by the school, that the school benefited from the game, which took place during school hours on the premises, and that participation in such games was taken into consideration during faculty performance reviews.” Not the same situation\*, maybe not even close, and IANAL and I’m not at all interested in a bar fight, but it seems like it’s worth looking into. And while he’s at it, he can ask the attorney about whether it’s legal in Illinois to fire an employee who files a work comp claim. (I’d sure like to see a non-Wiki cite for that.) \*Reading this stuff was an eye-opener. Seems like Illinois bends over backwards in favor of injured claimants. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944/20 "2006-07-18T05:36:55Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > And while he’s at it, he can ask the attorney about whether it’s legal in Illinois to fire an employee who files a work comp claim. (I’d sure like to see a non-Wiki cite for that.) I never said that was the law in Illinois. I said it is legal in some states. As Karana as my witness, I shall never again commit the unpardonable sin of trying to be helpful here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workmans-comp-and-injuries-at-company-events/364944.md?page=2)