A closer look at the workers' compensation challenges a hybrid workforce faces:

Ensuring a safe remote workspace: No matter where their employees work, whether it's in their homes or the office, employers need to ensure they have a safe environment. Employees may need training and resources on how to work safely at home. Many home offices may not be the most ergonomically-friendly spaces which could lead to issues like muscle strains or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Establishing where the accident or injury occurred: When an employee suffers an injury while performing work remotely, it might be difficult to determine whether the injury took place while they were actually on the clock. It could also be a challenge to understand if they were injured during the course of their employment.
Increased mental health issues: While remote work offers numerous benefits to employees, for some, a lack of social engagement and support could lead to mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression. In some states, workers' compensation programs have recently shifted to consider the injured worker's physical and mental health along with their social environment to create more personalized treatment plans for injured workers. However, workers' comp may not cover mental health issues unless they are proven to be directly related to their job duties.
Efficiencies within the claims process: Some workers' compensation claims for hybrid workers may need to be handled remotely, which may slow down and complicate the process. It's important for an employer who offers a hybrid model to consider implementing newer technology that makes it easier to manage claims.
Return to work: Working in a hybrid environment may pose challenges to individuals returning to work with restrictions following an injury. Employers may not be able to offer the right types of transitional duties, and they may also experience issues managing the individual to ensure they are staying within their work restrictions.

Hybrid workers and common workers' compensation claims

Workers' compensation laws vary by state, but in most cases, a remote worker would be covered by a business's workers' compensation insurance policy. Four of the most common workers' compensation claims seen for hybrid workforces include the following:

Repetitive strain injuries: Workers sitting in the same position, typing on a computer or using a mouse for long hours can suffer musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to overusing the same muscle groups, having bad posture and completing repetitive tasks.
Ergonomic injuries: Similar to repetitive strain injuries, if employees do not have a proper ergonomic setup in their home, they could experience back pain, neck pain or carpal tunnel syndrome, which would be covered under workers' compensation.
Transportation accidents: According to what is known as the "coming and going" rule, normal workday travel to and from the workplace is not covered by workers' compensation in most states. However, when a hybrid employee travels as part of their normal workday duties, such as to visit a client or vendor, and has an accident and is injured during that commute, that would be covered by workers' compensation.
Mental health conditions: The uncertainty many individuals felt during the COVID-19 pandemic led to mental health issues and increased levels of anxiety and depression. Balancing life and work can become a challenge for hybrid workers, who may work longer hours or feel isolated from others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that depression interferes with a person's ability to complete job tasks about 20% of the time and reduces cognitive performance about 35% of the time.

Top strategies for managing workers' compensation claims for hybrid workers

How can employers ensure their hybrid workforce keeps safety in mind regardless of where they are completing their daily duties? One of the top best practices is to establish protocols for working from home that will help to mitigate the possible risk remote workers face.

Special Reports /

Trends in workers' compensation: How safe is your hybrid workforce?

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