If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1If you hit your head, lost consciousness, have chest pain, trouble breathing or a possible broken bone, call 911.
- 2Take care of the injury first: sit down, get first aid, and arrange a ride to urgent care if needed rather than driving in pain.
- 3Message your manager in writing, such as an email or work chat, saying you were injured while working and how.
- 4Write down the time, the room, and the work task: on a call, carrying the work laptop, getting up from your desk chair, heading to the printer.
- 5Take photos of where it happened, such as the stairs, cord, chair or rug, before anything is moved.
- 6Save anything that shows you were working at that moment, like the calendar invite, login time or the email you were sending.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Many remote workers are not sure an injury at home can count. Whether it does generally depends on your state and on whether you were doing something for your job when it happened. Reporting it promptly lets your employer and its insurer look at the facts rather than guess later.
Be specific and honest in your report. Say what you were doing for work, where in the home, and what caused the fall or strain. Avoid guessing about medical details; just describe what you felt and what you saw.
Deadlines to report an injury and to file a claim vary by state. Check with your state's workers' compensation agency and your HR team as soon as possible, and ask whether your company has a remote-work injury process.
Keep copies of your report, any replies, your remote-work agreement or schedule if you have one, and a list of medical visits and time missed.
Getting medical care
Get checked by a licensed clinician, especially for back, ankle or foot injuries from stairs or tripping, which can be more serious than they first seem. Only a clinician can decide what care fits after an evaluation.
Tell the clinic that the injury happened while you were working, even though you were at home. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask HR or the adjuster about this early.
If you are prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and the claims adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery of prescriptions is often available, which can be helpful if you are working from home anyway.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- Your employer or the insurer says a home injury cannot be a work injury and the claim is denied.
- There is a dispute about whether you were on the clock or on a personal errand when you got hurt.
- A back or ankle injury is not healing and you cannot do your job as usual.
- Pain developed over time from a poor home desk setup and the claim is called not work-related.
- You feel pressured not to report, or you are treated differently after reporting.
- You are asked to sign a settlement and want to understand it first.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your care plan and keep a short daily note on pain, mobility and work tasks you could or could not manage. For remote workers, these notes are often the clearest record of how the injury affects your day.
Ask your clinician whether you need restrictions, such as limits on sitting, stairs or lifting equipment. Share them with your manager. Remote jobs can sometimes be adjusted with breaks, schedule changes or equipment, so ask what is possible.
Stay in touch with your manager and adjuster by email so there is a written trail. Let them know about appointments and any days you cannot work.
Questions to ask
- Does our company have a process for reporting injuries that happen while working remotely?
- Who is the claims adjuster, and what information do they need from me?
- Is there a doctor or clinic I should see first for a work injury?
- Can the company provide equipment, like a different chair or a headset, while I recover?
- Doctor, should I limit sitting, stairs or carrying anything while I heal?
- How are work-injury prescriptions handled, and can they be delivered to my home?
- Attorney, how does my state usually look at injuries that happen in a home office?
Frequently asked questions
Can you get workers' comp if you were hurt while working from home?
Sometimes, depending on your state and whether you were doing something for work when it happened. Each situation is looked at on its own facts. Report it in writing and ask your state's workers' compensation agency how remote-work injuries are handled.
Does it matter what I was doing when I got hurt at home?
Yes, it often matters a great deal. Tripping while carrying your work laptop to a meeting is different from getting hurt on a personal chore. Write down exactly what work task you were doing.
I tripped on the stairs going to get coffee during my workday. Does that count?
It depends on your state and the facts. Some places treat short breaks during the workday differently than others. Report the injury honestly and ask your employer or a workers' comp attorney how your state tends to view it.
What proof helps if I was hurt while working from home?
Records showing you were working and where it happened are often the most useful. That can include photos, the time of a call or email, your schedule and your written report. Save them in one place.
Can I get pain from my home desk setup covered?
It may be possible in some situations, depending on your state. Pain that builds slowly from work can be treated differently from a sudden injury. Report it, describe your setup and see a clinician.
Who do I tell if I get hurt working remotely?
Tell your direct manager and HR in writing as soon as you can. Ask whether there is a specific remote-work injury form. Keep a copy of what you send.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).