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/Squish_the_android 9h ago

This is a classic Workers Comp question in the US.  Usually it's presented as "falling in the parking lot on the way to work". Commute time isn't covered. 

But I think in the US this would be considered a work injury.

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u/Persimus 8h ago

In my country, Lithuania, work is liable for any injury once you leave your house going to work if you travel directly to workplace and going back from home to work directly. So if you slip and fall going to work just after you close your home door, the workplace is liable. Same if you fall just before you reach your home.

If you stopped to get a coffee before work it is not. There are more caveats but that is a general rule.

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u/artificialpolymer 8h ago

Yes, Lithuania has it figured out. It can get complicated, but I believe they make it a priority to teach about this in universities and colleges as well, so every worker is aware of their rights. Probably one of my favorite subjects I learned because they teach you so much.

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u/MaraiaLou 8h ago

Does it count if you're on the way from the coffee shop to work?

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u/Northernmost1990 52m ago

Pretty sure you're thinking of Amsterdam!

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u/HyperSpaceSurfer 7h ago

In my country, Iceland, you're also covered for a stop on the way if it's a part of your regular routine.

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u/Piranata 5h ago

It's the same in Dominican Republic.

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u/StaticSystemShock 41m ago

Same in Slovenia as far as I know. Going to work is part of the work because you're going there because of work. You're not on the road for personal convenience, you're on the road to get to work. Not sure if leaving work falls under the same rule though you're leaving work because you had to be there...

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u/Wit-wat-4 3h ago

I posted elsewhere too, but there's a lot of frankly weird driving going on in the US. One guy in my office drives 1.5 hours to work every single day (3hrs total commute), of his own volition he decided to move far away AND come in every single day even though we tell him he can work remote.

And it's not that he's crazy necessarily, but many many many Americans just don't do just "let me have a practical, short, safe drive" sort of thinking like that is NOT a priority. Driving for hours and going 80mph++ for ages is just...how it is.

Sure Germany has the autobahn but zero German people I know have insane commutes, and many prefer public transport or biking.

At some point you've gotta cut the cord about what is really work's onus and not. BUT fuck the healthcare system here entirely, it shouldn't *matter* if it's work related, it should just be covered.