15
Oct 2021
By

Despite Aches and Pains, Many Remote Employees Didn’t Seek Workers’ Comp Benefits in 2020

Photo of a young woman sitting at her desktop computer, doing computer programming in her home office

Find out why from a workers’ comp attorney

Workers’ compensation claims declined overall during the pandemic last year despite remote employees experiencing more aches and pains, according to news reports about the issue, including one published by The Hartford Courant.

Even though more employees said they were getting hurt while working from home, insurance companies did not receive more workers’ compensation claims from remote workers for occupational injuries last year.

Instead, many companies took preventative steps designed to reduce aches and pains for remote workers, according to officials from Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. interviewed by The Hartford Courant. During the past 18 months, requests from businesses seeking services designed to prevent work-from-home injuries increased by 200 percent.

Despite complaints, claims didn’t increase

Overall, workers’ comp claims declined by 9.8 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, according to statistics compiled by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) as reported by the Insurance Information Institute (III). Last year, $42,500,412 worth of net premiums for workers’ compensation claims were issued compared to $47,142,191 in 2019.

Insurance companies expected an increase in claims last year from remote workers based on more complaints about aches and pains from people working from home. But such complaints did not result in more workers’ comp claims from remote workers, according to Mary Nasenbenny, chief claims officer at Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.

“They’re not going to HR to report things,” said Vivienne Fleischer, co-founder and president of Performance Based Ergonomics, in an interview with The Hartford Courant. “They might say I need support. My back hurts. I need a new chair.”

Common work-from-home injuries

Many workers last year had similar complaints about injuries or aches and pains due to working remotely at home. According to Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., some of the most common complaints they received from employers about remote workers involved:

  • Lower back pain due to poor ergonomic seating or improper chair height.
  • Neck pain due to improper keyboard height.
  • Eye strain due to staring at computer screens all day.
  • Shoulder pain or upper back pain.
  • Ear fatigue or hearing-related problems due to the use of earbuds.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome and other muscle strain injuries due to chronic overuse.

What should I do if I have a work-from-home injury?

If you believe you have sustained an injury while working remotely, take the following steps right away to protect your health and your rights:

  • Tell your employer you are suffering from aches, pains, or another medical condition due to your work.
  • If your medical issue is ergonomically related, ask for a more ergonomic desk, chair, keyboard, or other improvements designed to prevent or alleviate work-related aches or pains. Many employers will conduct an ergonomic assessment to determine if your workspace is ergonomically correct.
  • Seek medical attention right away and have a doctor thoroughly examine you. Don’t try to diagnose your work-related injury yourself. Have a licensed medical professional conduct the necessary tests to determine exactly what’s wrong with you.
  • Ask for copies of your medical records related to your work-related injury.
  • Keep a diary or journal documenting exactly when and where on your body you’re experiencing pain or discomfort.
  • Talk to a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible.

Injured remote workers have the right to seek benefits

If you were injured while working from home, you have the right to pursue workers’ comp benefits—but claims involving remote workers often turn complicated. Your employer or your employer’s insurance company might claim that your injury was not work-related. As a result, they might deny your claim for workers’ compensation benefits even though your injuries were sustained within the scope of your work.

At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, we understand what you’re going through. That’s why we want to help. We have years of experience handling workers’ comp claims in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and we know how to help our clients navigate the system to obtain the benefits they need and deserve.

Discover what we can do for you. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. We have three offices conveniently located in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and handle workers’ comp claims for clients in both states.

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