As the world takes great interest in the progression of H1N1 into a possible pandemic or just a burst of end of season flu, the thoughts of FC&S staff naturally turn to insurance. What kind of coverage, if any, is available for someone who gives another person or colleague the flu? What about businesses that could infect employees or customers? There are many issues to look at, and even if H1N1 isn't the next 1918 flu, it never hurts to be prepared.

Workers Compensation

Workers compensation provides coverage to employees for injury caused by accident or disease that is caused or aggravated by the conditions of employment. In order for H1N1 to be claimed under workers compensation, the employee will have to show that the virus was contracted at work, versus the grocery store, movies, mall, or other area where one is exposed to the public at large. This is not an easy thing to prove. Unless it can be shown that the employee became infected at work, there is no coverage.