Lampton's Workers' Comp Protection Bill Signed by Governor

COLUMBUS – State Representative Brian Lampton’s (R-Beavercreek) legislation to establish criteria for work-from-home employees when filing for workers’ compensation has been signed into law.

“Business culture is changing with work-from-home and hybrid work weeks,” said Lampton. “This requires workers’ compensation to also adjust how they do business. This legislation will lay out clear guidelines for what can and can’t be covered under workers’ compensation for work-from-home employees.”

House Bill 447 codifies that injuries sustained by work-from-home employees qualify for workers’ compensation if the injury was caused by their employment and within the control of their employer.

Currently, state law does not differentiate injuries sustained by work-from-home employees that are within the employer’s control from injuries sustained by work-from-home employees that are outside of the employer’s control.

Under House Bill 447 work-from-home employees, who sustain an injury while working, qualify for workers’ compensation if the employee meets three criteria:

• The employee’s injury or disability arises out of the employee’s employment
• The employee’s injury or disability was caused by a special hazard of the employee’s employment activity
• The employee’s injury or disability is sustained in the course of an activity undertaken by the employee for the exclusive benefit of the employer

“This legislation is not meant to deter people from filing claims,” said Lampton. “The purpose of this bill is to protect the stability of Ohio’s workers’ compensation system.”