I had an arrangment with my employer (because of medical issues) that if I were unable to work a day here and there that I would bring work home to make up my hours-I work on a computer and can easily communicate/send the work I do via the internet. I am now being told by the personel person that I cannot do this as they dont have insurance to cover someone working off the premisis-ie. an office outside of the company. I cannot find any info on this anywhere, I don’t have an “office” I am simply doing artwork on the computer and am a salaried employee who works and lives in Massachussetts. We have sales people who travel all the time who also “work” on their phones (after hours) talking to clients-how is this any different? Is there some liabilty insurance needed? Maybe workers comp. is the issue… I am not sure but if anyone knows how this works I would really appreciate the help….
Thank You
Are There Liability Issues For Allowing Someone To Bring Work Home?
Oct - 26 | By: AHT | 4 comments.
Filed under : Health Insurance
4 Responses to “Are There Liability Issues For Allowing Someone To Bring Work Home?”
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Well, they don’t have liability for it, because it doesn’t exist. Unless you actually have clients/customers coming to your house, I don’t see that there is ANY extra liability exposure, from you working at home, vs. working in their office. There isn’t any extra workers comp exposure, either (although there’s an increase in fraudulent claims for at home workers – but that’s another issue).
The ONLY issue, is taking business property off premises. OK, I thought of one. If you’re taking sensitive information off premises, via paper or electronic computer files, and the information is stolen, there is potentially some exposure there. But that’s not with the artwork you’re describing.
If your home was a “satellite” to the office, I could understand a need for the company having more control over your situation.
But what you are describing is yourself being able to work at home to compensate for medical issues. It is getting the work done that you need to and have a compulsion to do.
The only way to know for sure is to have your company call their insurance agent. I don’t see an issue on their part. You on the other hand may want to call your homeowners insurance agent & add “incidental office liability” to your policy. It is CHEAP (as long as you are working from your home & not a detached structure) & what it does is increase your on premises business contents (your computer, desk, phone, chair) to the contents limit on your homeowners policy. The standard homeowners policy only has $2500 coverage. It also adds a little liability (someone from your office comes to your house on the way home from work & drops you off some work to do & gets injured). The standard homeowners policy does not have any business liability. Call your agent & find out & get a quote.
I am an insurance agent & the producers bring home work all the time, they have laptops to do that. There is no liability issue there.
Sensitive information could be stolen off your computer and IT has no control over the security of the machine in question. Coming in on weekends or staying late would be a better option to make up your hours.