Can I Seek Compensation Injuries Sustained at a Company Event in Florida?

Whether you enjoy spending extra time with your co-workers or prefer to head home immediately after work, attending company events and activities can be a great way to get to know the people you work with while strengthening your working relationship. However, if you sustain an injury while participating in a social or recreational activity, you may be unsure whether or not you are eligible to seek workers’ compensation. If this reflects your circumstances, the following blog explores what you should know about these matters, including the importance of discussing your situation with an experienced Florida workers’ compensation attorney.

How Does Workers’ Compensation Work?

When you sustain an injury at work, in many instances, you will be eligible to file for workers’ compensation. This is a type of insurance that your employer will carry to help cover some of the expenses incurred by an employee who is injured on the job. Generally, you can recover the cost of your medical expenses, as well as a portion of your lost wages, and if necessary, funeral expenses.

In most instances, injured employees are unable to file a lawsuit against their employer for the injuries they’ve sustained unless exigent circumstances are present, like gross negligence or willful, malicious intent.

Am I Eligible if the Injury Was Sustained at a Company Event?

First and foremost, it’s important to understand what the law says regarding company outings and workers’ compensation. As per the Florida Statute, recreational or social activities are generally not compensable unless they are required or produce a substantial and direct benefit to an employer that goes beyond improving employee morale.

As such, if it is a required event, such as a company-wide, mandatory picnic or dinner, and you sustain an injury, you have a relatively straightforward path to file a claim. However, you’ll also find that if attendance is not mandatory, per se, but it will be factored into consideration when management makes promotions, you will likely still have grounds to file on the basis that it was a mandatory event as part of your job requirement.

You should note that outings planned by coworkers, like happy hours or game nights, are ineligible for compensation. This is because management generally has nothing to do with planning these events. As such, your employer cannot be held liable for an event they had no part in putting together.

Unfortunately, company events and outings can be a gray area for those injured. As such, if you are unsure whether or not your accident warrants workers’ compensation, it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced attorney with the Law Firm of Kevin A. Moore. Our team understands how difficult these matters can be to navigate, which is why we will do everything in our power to help you fight for the compensation you deserve during this process. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you.