Bowling For Workers’ Comp Dollars

Quite often here in the Cluttered Desk we relay stories of abject stupidity, either for an action that caused a needless injury, a legislative effort that makes no sense, or a court decision that boggles the mind. Today, however, our story includes none of that.

It simply discusses an injury and subsequent court decision that shows the complexities of the workers’ compensation system regarding the most basic level of compensability.

Was an injury compensable or not?

In a 2-1 decision this week, the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal overturned a decision that had denied benefits to an employee who was injured while bowling at a company event held during working hours.

The question was ‘’whether the outing was a “recreational or social activity” or whether it was part of [employee’s] job.”