Georgia workers’ compensation laws provide clear protections for employees who suffer injuries on the job. Those protections become less clear when an employee gets hurt while off the clock but still performing a work-related task.
If you find yourself in such a situation, the key to securing compensation lies in proving that the errand was part of your job duties.
What constitutes a job-related errand?
Georgia law allows for workers’ compensation claims when an employee suffers an injury while performing tasks that benefit the employer. Even if the injury happens outside regular working hours, you may still qualify for compensation if the errand is directly connected to your job. For instance, if an employer asks you to pick up supplies on the way home or deliver documents after hours, these actions may be within the scope of your employment.
However, not every off-the-clock activity qualifies. If the task is not directly related to your job or an employer did not request it, your injury might not fall under workers’ compensation. For example, if you get hurt while running personal errands during a break or while on the way to pick up lunch, Georgia’s workers’ compensation law may not cover that injury.
What if I get an injury while commuting?
Georgia workers’ compensation law has a stipulation, known as the “going and coming” rule, that plays a role in determining whether workers’ compensation applies. Under this rule, employees injured during their regular commute to and from work are generally not eligible for compensation. However, there are exceptions. If the commute involves a special errand for an employer or if the employee is on-call, the rule may not apply.
When dealing with injuries that occur while off the clock, the circumstances surrounding the errand and its connection to work duties become the central focus. Getting hurt while running a work errand may still entitle you to workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia, but only if the task was work-related.
