It is well-established that injuries sustained while an employee is going to or leaving work are not compensable under the Workers’ Compensation Act, yet the courts have long recognized an exception to this general principle known as the “ingress/egress rule,” which extends the “period of employment” to include a reasonable time for ingress to or egress from the place of work, such that injuries which occur on the employer’s premise during such reasonable time may be compensable. See O.C.G.A.§ 34-9-1(4). In a practical manner, questions surrounding the application of the ingress/egress rule commonly arise when an employee is not “on the clock” but is nevertheless injured entering the ... Continue Reading
Tips for Managing Workers’ Compensation Claims for Employees Under 18 years of age
Given the considerable number of employees under the age of 18 in the workforce, employers and insurers need to be aware of how to manage those claims. While minor employees are entitled to the same benefits as adult employees, the way those benefits are paid, and the way the claims are settled, is different. Generally, the only person capable of representing a minor entitled to workers’ compensation benefits is a conservator duly appointed and qualified by a probate court or some other court of competent jurisdiction. This means that indemnity benefits should not be paid directly to a minor employee; rather, they must be paid to a conservator who will hold and use the funds for the ... Continue Reading