The 2018 NFL Championship game is fast approaching, driving a lot of excitement for Minnesota residents. We last hosted the big game 26 years ago in 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Hosting at the new U.S. Bank Stadium will be the responsibility of 10,000 “Crew 52” volunteers. If you are among this elite group, you should keep in mind what your rights are as a volunteer to receive workers’ compensation should an accident occur during the game and the 10 days leading up to it.
Typically, volunteers are not covered under an organization’s workers’ compensation policy. However, the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act defines “employee” legislatively to include the following volunteers:
- Emergency management volunteers such as firefighting services, police services, medical and health services, cleaning crews and more
- Nonemergency ambulance staff volunteers
- Nonemergency first responder and law enforcement volunteers
- Medical reserve corps volunteers
- Social service program volunteer workers
If the volunteer service you are providing for the big game falls under one of these categories, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if you are injured. You would need to immediately inform your volunteer coordinator or other contact and seek medical attention, then file for a workers’ compensation claim.
If you will not be performing one of these tasks during the game and its lead-up activities, you may not qualify for workers’ compensation. However, it is possible the U.S. Bank Stadium has a policy that covers you.
Before your volunteer service begins, ask your coordinator or contact about what their policy is in the event an accident happens. Consider getting a free consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney as well to see what you would or wouldn’t qualify for in the event of an injury.