Many workers in the greater Twin Cities area may have attended a recent holiday party, or just an end-of-the-year event, in recent days. While hopefully everyone managed to stay safe at these events, there is always a chance an employee can get injured at a social event like the annual holiday party. Of course, this applies to other company outings that take place at other times of the year as well.
While one might not realize it, workers’ compensation benefits could be available to an employee who gets hurt at an employer-sponsored office event. The reason is that benefits cover not only accidents that happen while on the company’s premises and while employees are actively performing their job functions but also at just about any work-related activity.
A work-related activity can include a social function sponsored by the office. However, as with any workers’ compensation issue, the answer to one’s particular question will depend heavily on the specific facts and circumstances.
A Minnesota resident who suffered an injury at an office party or a work-related social function therefore may want to consider speaking with a workers’ compensation lawyer prior to filing or pursuing a claim.
An injury at a holiday party is not always going to be a minor cut or bruise that can easily be fixed. For example, a bad slip and fall accident can leave a worker with broken bones and, thus, unable to work for several days or even weeks. Even though they happened at a party, without financial assistance, these sorts of injuries can put a serious financial strain on a worker’s pocketbook.