B 2 U 4/21 R

Nature of the Case

Social security court finding that an employee’s walk to their home office is statutorily insurable in the case of an accident.

Enforcement of the Decision and Outcomes

This case answered in the affirmative the question of whether accidents in home office could be covered by statutory accident insurance. Unlike private insurance companies, statutory accident insurance does not pay out premiums, but it assumes the costs of treatment or pays a pension if the accident results in permanent damage. The plaintiff’s specific claims and possible compensation were not addressed in this case. Through this BSG decision, future plaintiffs who suffer similar injuries while working from home can now rely on statutory accident insurance to assist in treatment and pension costs.

Significance of the Case

This case is a win for employee rights in an increasingly digital world, where more and more people work from home offices. Although the facts of the case predate the COVID-19 pandemic, the precedent that the BSG set will allow more and more workers in home office settings to enjoy the benefits granted to workers in traditional office settings.

For their contributions, special thanks to ESCR-Net member: the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) at Northeastern University.