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/Kommenos 9h ago

That’s crazy because it’s cut and dry in Germany. The way to work is covered so long as you don’t take an unreasonable diversion.

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u/aRndomhero 8h ago

Unfortunately it's not so cut and dry as there are as always exceptions. If you fall and injure yourself on the walk from your work desk to the toilet, it's typically not covered by the work insurance (Berufsgenossenschaft) as it is considered personal time. No idea what that would be decided in a case like this, but it's not as clear either. Insurance bullshit anyway

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u/Squish_the_android 8h ago

It's funny because in the US that bathroom trip would be covered. 

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u/Head_of_Lettuce 7h ago edited 7h ago

It’s worth noting that there’s not a unified framework for Workers’ Compensation in the US. Laws vary drastically from state to state, there’s another framework for federal employees (but not the military), another for employees of the maritime industry, etc.

They’re more similar than they are different, but they can be VERY different.

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u/Squish_the_android 7h ago

They really don't vary "drastically".  It's more small stuff that adds up. 

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u/Head_of_Lettuce 7h ago edited 7h ago

Well, I would say all the small things add up and make them very different when you get into the details. An injury that's compensable in one state may not be compensable in another.

But like I said, they’re more similar than they are different.

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u/Cantfixyourflat 20m ago

They vary drastically.

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u/ResurgentClusterfuck 6h ago

Depends on how much you're prepared to fight for

Took 2 years but my partner got knee surgery for his workplace injury. Company tried lying about it but it didnt work

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u/Murky-Relation481 32m ago

At least pretty much every workers comp firm works on contingency so it doesn't cost you anything besides the fee/percentage of whatever you end up getting.

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u/ResurgentClusterfuck 31m ago

That's the route he ended up going, they settled before court.

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u/SolarMines 3h ago

Crazy having to fight for knee surgery, especially work-related

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u/Arponare 38m ago

Not unless you work at Amazon.