Workers’ Comp for Remote Employees of North Carolina Employers: Key Information You Need

North Carolina workers’ compensation law does not have a specific set of rules for providing benefits to workers who are injured while working remotely. The specific details of your unique case make all the difference.

If you are a remote worker and got hurt on the job or sick from work, do not hesitate to call us and tell us your story. We will listen, answer your questions, and can help you seek the maximum workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to.

Call us today at 1-866-900-7078 for your free case evaluation.

Does Worker’s Comp Cover Remote Employees?

Yes. In North Carolina, workers’ compensation generally covers remote and telecommuting employees who are injured on the job. However, the remote worker must be able to demonstrate that they were acting in the interest of their employer at the time they were injured or leading to their illness.

To receive potential benefits, your injury must be the result of an accident that arose:

• out of your work (i.e. the cause of the accident is work-related)
• in the course and scope of your work (i.e. the time, place, and circumstances of the accident are work-related)

Is Workers’ Comp Required for Remote Employees?

Yes. North Carolina employers with three or more employees are generally required to carry workers’ comp insurance for their eligible employees – whether they work in the office or remotely. If your injury or illness arose out of and in the course of employment, you are likely able to receive benefits.

We Help Remote Workers Seek Benefits for Work-From-Home Injuries

We have helped remote workers seek benefits for all kinds of job-related injuries, including these common work-from-home injuries:

• broken bones and fractures from tripping and falling
• muscle, tendon, and nerve injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis,

from repetitive movement and overuse

• back, neck, and shoulder pain from sitting at a computer workstation that is not ergonomically designed
• electrical burns from overloaded electrical devices and cords

The burden of proof usually falls on you to establish that your injury or illness was work-related. We know the laws regarding workers’ comp for work-from-home employees and can help you build your case. An experienced workers’ comp attorney can significantly increase your odds of receiving maximum benefits and compensation.

Does Your North Carolina Employer Have a Remote Workplace Policy?

Many North Carolina employers have a telecommuting or remote workplace policy that outlines their expectations for their employees who do not work in the office.

These policies typically establish guidelines for practices, equipment, and furniture for the home office setting as well as policies that define work hours, job expectations, and specific areas designated as “home office space.” This can impact whether an injury is considered work-related.

North Carolina has a “personal comfort doctrine” which states that injuries sustained while an employee is performing an activity that is necessary for their health and comfort can often still be covered under workers’ comp.

This rule generally includes activities such as visiting the restroom, getting a drink or snack, or taking a coffee break because they are typically considered to be work-related, necessary, and part of “normal working conditions.”

Beware! For-profit insurance companies make more by paying out less. When you are a remote worker, it can be very difficult to establish that a personal comfort activity you were doing while injured should be considered a normal working condition. For example, if you’re working from home and trip over your dog while getting coffee, insurance may say that the presence of your dog means these were not “normal working conditions” and therefore deny your claim.

But you don’t have to take on your employer’s insurance company on your own. Several members of our team worked as insurance adjusters and for insurance defense firms. That means our attorneys have inside knowledge and experience to counter lowball tactics to pay you less.

Why Choose Us As Your Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

Our mission is to help injured workers hurt in any kind of work situation.

To help you, our workers’ comp team has several attorneys who are North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law – a designation that fewer than 160 attorneys licensed to practice in NC can claim.⁵

And for 2025, our firm was named to the “Best Law Firms” list from Best Lawyers in America for the 10^th year in a row – with a Tier 1 ranking (the highest) for workers’ compensation.⁴

Coupled with this experience and knowledge is a commitment to giving you peace of mind while you focus on recovering. We created a You-First Policy that lays out how we put our clients’ needs first. Always.

But don’t take our word for it. See what our clients have to say:

And there’s no need to worry about the cost of a high-quality workers’ comp attorney. At our firm, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs, no retainer fees, no hourly fees…and no attorney’s fee at all unless we get compensation for you. Guaranteed.²

If you need help, a real person is ready to talk with you about your workers’ compensation case right now. What are you owed? Call us at 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online for your free case evaluation.

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⁵ Figures provided by NC State Bar as of January 2024.