Question

Yzer Inc. asked for volunteers from its employees to help with yard work on its premises prior to a grand reopening. Barton Rodr, a salaried programmer who received no additional pay, suffered a heart attack while doing the lawn work. He sought workers' compensation benefits, but Yzer denied he was working as an employee at the time of the injury, claiming that it had not occurred during the course and scope of his employment. Should Rodr recover workers' compensation benefits

Answer 1

Answer: Yes he should.

Explanation:

Barton Rodr was a salaried programmee who was working for Yzer at the time of the accident.

He decided to volunteer to help his company with yard work for it's grand reopening.

Whilst helping, he sustained an injury and notified his employers of his intention to seek workers compensation benefits. In doing so, he has satisfied one of the requirements for claiming such.

His employer then refused to grant him workers compensation as it says that he was not working at the time.

This is untrue as Barton Rodr was working at the time of the incident. Even though he was volunteering for the company, it does not mean that he was a volunteer because he was not an ordinary person but rather an employee of the firm.

According to the law, workers compensation arises in the line of duty to the employer. The only deviation is where the employee is doing something purely personal or for another entity. Barton Rodr in this instance was still serving his employer even though it was outside the office.

It is important to note that what Mr. Rodr was doing was in the interest of his employer and he was still an employee when the incident happened.

These 2 facts alone entitle him to workers compensation benefits.