Minnesota is full of good people who look for ways to give back to their community. One way people give back is by volunteering, and there’s no shortage of ways to get involved with organizations and events in your city. Most people aren’t looking for anything when they decide to volunteer, but what happens if you suffer an injury while you’re volunteering at an event? Can you get workers’ compensation or another form of compensation, or are you out of luck because you’re not technically an employee of the business? That’s the question we’ll tackle in today’s blog.
Compensation For Volunteers
Even though you are working as part of your duties as a volunteer, that doesn’t automatically mean that you are viewed as a worker who is eligible for workers’ compensation in the eyes of the state government. Under Minnesota law, a person generally needs to meet three requirements in under to be considered eligible for workers’ compensation:
- The employee needs to have suffered an occupational injury.
- The employee must have been hurt at work.
- The employee must have been on the clock or at their job site at the time of injury.
So while you may be able to make an argument that the volunteer meets all three of these bullet points, a volunteer isn’t considered an employee, and therefore doesn’t meet the criteria of the above definition in order to qualify for workers’ compensation. Since there is no hiring process, no work contract and no pay or compensation, volunteers are not afforded the same rights to workers’ compensation as full-time of even part-time employees.
Exceptions
Now, there are still instances where volunteers are entitled to compensation if they suffer an injury during their time as a volunteer. For example, even though you didn’t go through the hiring process, if you are compensated in other ways for your volunteer efforts, like with a meal, free items or product discounts, this may be considered pay and in turn open you up to some workers’ compensation eligibility. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to make a strong enough case on this basis on your own, so it’s best to consult with a workers’ compensation lawyer if you were compensated in other forms for your time and effort.
Another potential avenue to pursue is if you’re working as an emergency volunteer. If you’re helping with a flash flood or a snow emergency, you may be eligible for compensation. Now, you’re not going to be able to get compensation if you’re injured while shoveling your sidewalk during a snow emergency, but if you’re acting as a volunteer paramedic, firefighter or other crisis relief actor, you are covered under Minnesota workers’ compensation.
Finally, even though you may not be eligible for workers’ compensation, if you are injured as a volunteer due to someone else’s negligence or oversight, you can pursue a personal injury claim against the liable party. Again, it’s in your best interest to consult with an injury firm like Hey Workers in order to put forth your best personal injury claim if you’re injured while volunteering.
So while you probably don’t have the same rights as a full-time employee, you still have options if you’re injured while volunteering or lending a hand. To learn more about your options or to start your claim, contact Hey Workers today.
