Employer-sponsored spring sporting events are a great way to build team morale and connect with your coworkers outside of the workplace. Although these events can be a ton of fun and bring employees closer together, they also pose serious risks if you happen to get injured while playing. You may be wondering if you have to take full responsibility for your injury while participating in a work sporting league, however, if it is a work- related event that your employer sponsors, you could be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Many work-related extracurricular events still fall under the realm of your job duties meaning that if you are injured, your employer is responsible.

There are a few different scenarios that can determine who should be responsible for an injury incurred during a work-related sporting event. The details of your specific situation can be extremely important while putting together a case to argue why you should be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits as a result of your injury. Factors such as where the sporting event was held, if it was mandatory or optional, and if your employer-sponsored your uniforms or the equipment all play a large role in determining if workers’ compensation should be awarded in the event of your injury.  Below are three general scenarios that outline the likelihood of an injured employee receiving workers’ compensation, however, remember that each case is unique and cannot be generalized which is why it is important to always consult an attorney after a work-related accident:

1. The sporting event is held on your work premises, employer-sponsored, and a required extracurricular activity for your workplace

In this case, you would be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits because you suffered from an injury during a mandatory work-related and employer-sponsored activity.

2. The sporting event is employer-sponsored but not held on the employer’s property and not required under your job-related responsibilities

In this situation, there are many other factors at play to determine if you could receive workers’ compensation benefits for your injury. Many times if it is an employer-sponsored event and you are injured on the job, your employer is at fault to some degree. Looking into the details of your injury and how it happened can play a huge role in determining your eligibility for workers’ compensation.

3. The sporting event is not employer-sponsored and is not required as part of your job responsibility

Now that employees are all slowly returning back to normal work, it is not uncommon for a group of coworkers to want to spend time with each other outside of the workplace. If you and several other employees organize an extracurricular sporting event (without your employer’s knowledge) and one of you is injured while playing, it is more difficult to argue for workers’ compensation benefits. In this scenario, your employer would neither be sponsoring nor requiring the event so it does not fall under part of your job description or work duties. However, if you are in the situation, it does not hurt to get an attorney‘s opinion since there could potentially be an uncommon reason as to why you could claim workers’ compensation for your injury.

Although work sporting leagues are a great bonding opportunity for everyone involved, it is important that you know the risks you are taking and the rights you have as an employee before stepping onto the field. If you are considering signing up for an employer-sponsored sports event or if you have previously been injured during one of these events, contact Poirier Law Firm as soon as possible. We will help you weed through all of the details that will determine if you could receive workers’ compensation and will knock your case out of the park while fighting for all of the benefits you deserve!