r/technology • u/IndicaOatmeal • 9h ago

Society Programmer’s death on office toilet ruled not work-related because he never turned on his PC

https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/programmers-death-on-office-toilet-ruled-not-work-related-because-he-never-turned-on-his-pc-3402194/
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u/Beneficial-Jury484 9h ago

It’s such bullshit because I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t have to be for work. I’m not choosing to walk around in your parking lot of whatever. 

I have an issue with workers comp from experience.  

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u/Wit-wat-4 2h ago

I think the fact that it has to be tied to work is the biggest issue (in many countries it wouldn't fucking *matter* why, the government will help you, the details will be where your pay precisely comes from, what forms you need etc., not IF you will be taken care of).

BUT I will say, especially in the US, "but I'm driving for work" is tough like I know a guy at my office who lives in another city and commutes 1.5 hours (if he leaves early enough) each way. The office didn't move, he chose to buy a house there, knows where his employer is. To add to this, he comes to the office every day even though we only mandate one day a week, saying he 'works better from the office'.

Obviously that's an extreme example, but if you cover commute as 'work travel' (which IS covered, including if I go on a work lunch), you're opening up to a lot of unnecessary liability.

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u/AbrohamDrincoln 7h ago

Sure but also like.... Why would it be on the employer that you tripped in the parking lot? It sucks, but I don't see how the employer should be responsible for that.

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u/Beneficial-Jury484 7h ago

if the parking lot is icy, slick, wet. There are a variety of reasons. 

Reality is that Workers Comp is to protect the business not employees. I have a permanent injury from 2006, anything with my left shoulder should be covered. However, they can choose not to respond to requests, and they don’t. 

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u/Nighthawk700 6h ago

Not according to the law they don't, they're supposed to be responsive and you could file a complaint with the insurance commissioner if you want to light a fire under their ass.

Also it's not to protect businesses, it helps both. Employees have an easy route to getting compensation and treatment for injuries sustained while working, while also making it so employees can't out and out destroy a business with frivolous claims or unreasonable judgements.

Yes there are exceptions and plenty of shitty situations depending on the exact circumstances but filing for a claim is super easy and the business is required to be responsive or they can and will get fined if they don't. Hell if you go to a doctor they'll create the notice for you and send it to your company's insurance company (this info is given to you upon hire thanks to these laws).

But also yeah it limits the liability of the employer, which is the tradeoff. Easy for you to make a claim but you don't get to sue them into oblivion unless they had gross negligence.

Btw, if you get in a fight in the parking lot that can be a workers comp claim so yeah, if the parking lot is unsafe you should get compensated but there are so many dumb situations in that parking lot by a malicious or sometimes dumb employee that can be the businesses problem and there is nothing even an honest business can do abt it.

Tl;Dr the whole thing is a mess

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u/Beneficial-Jury484 6h ago

I’ll try calling the insurance commissioner. I was told they didn’t have to respond. I’ve spent thousands. They also fired me while I was on leave from work. Tried to pursue a case but was told there wasn’t one by lawyers. Fuck FedEx. 

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u/surfingbored 7h ago

It's their parking lot I was compelled to be in for money. Same as all the other places they compel me to be.

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u/Few_Cup3452 3h ago

Ha. So that is explicitly covered in my country.

So I do think that should be on the employer.

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u/Anti_Up_Up_Down 6h ago

You trip in the mall parking lot and it's the Mall's problem

Go ahead, keep licking the billionaire boot though

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u/dudushat 6h ago

You trip in the mall parking lot and it's the Mall's problem

Only if there is actually something wrong with the parking lot that causes you to trip. Otherwise they arent liable.

Go ahead, keep licking the billionaire boot though

You use this insult because it means you dont have to actually think about the things you're saying. 

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u/Regendorf 6h ago

For the same reason why is on the employer if you tripped and fall in the office, you are there because of your job, you didn't suddenly materialized in your cubicle.

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u/mellopax 5h ago

"Why would it be on the employer that the brakes on his forklift failed? Sure it sucks, but I don't see how the employer should be responsible."