Work Comp Injuries While Team Building
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By Glenn Matsen
Team Building exercises can and have the reverse effect that is intended if someone gets hurt.
Workers Compensation pays for on the job injuries in all 50 states but there is considerable gray area when it comes to volunteered events and “after-work hours” team building activities.
Some states, such as California, specify that claims arising out of voluntary recreational activities are not covered unless the employee was directly or indirectly required to participate in the activity by the employer.
Discrimination and harassment claims can also arise from within the employee ranks if they are feeling pressured to do an activity that violates their “personal space” in their minds. There can and usually is in these social activities a component of humiliation (someone usually loses) that brings in a whole host of employment practices claims.
The key as always is having people on the team that are attentive and sensitive to what is actually going on with all the participants during the activity. A more holistic approach of having more of a body – mind – and spirit approach to the activities goals will help in prevention of adverse claims in this “Pop Culture Management” technique that is widely used in companies.
The reality of someone getting hurt and the company having a workers compensation claim has lasting economic impacts. In the state of California workers compensation claims adversely affect your pricing with a surcharge for workers compensation insurance for 3 years.
The lesson to be learned in the group event and or team building exercise might well be learned by the management team versus the participants.
R. Glenn Matsen, CEO, MBA, CPCU, ARM, CLU, ChFC has over 30 years of risk management experience in providing insurance solutions for the small business owners needs. His website contains detailed information on Tech Insurance and Technology Professional Liability Insurance.
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