WORKERS COMPENSATION FOR OUT OF STATE EMPLOYEES
Employees based in states outside of Minnesota may be eligible for out of state workers compensation if a physical injury is sustained within the state of Minnesota.
Minnesota broadly extends the jurisdiction of its workers’ compensation law to any out-of-state employee who physically sustains an injury while working in Minnesota.
If a worker from another state is injured while performing work duties within Minnesota, the injured employee usually must forego a right to their home state’s work comp benefits before accepting Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits.
But for many Minnesota workers injured while working in another state, the issue becomes– what type of benefits am I entitled to?
THE APPLICATION OF MINNESOTA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW AND BENEFITS TO INJURIES PHYSICALLY OCCURRING OUTSIDE THE STATE IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED.
Except as otherwise provided, injuries occurring outside of Minnesota are not covered.
However, in certain factual scenarios, the injured employee may qualify for out-of-state workers’ compensation.
EMPLOYEES REGULARLY EMPLOYED WITHIN THE STATE
Minnesota work comp coverage will be afforded to any employee injured outside the state if the employee regularly performs the primary duties of employment in Minnesota and was working for the same employer while injured outside the state.
Minn. Stat. 176.041, subd. 2. The terms “regularly performs” and “primary duty” is subject to review and interpretation by the court. The specific facts of a case will determine whether out of state workers compensation coverage applies.
EMPLOYEES TEMPORALIY OUT OF STATE
Minnesota jurisdiction also exists, and work comp coverage will apply, where the employee is hired in Minnesota, by a Minnesota employer, and is injured while temporarily outside the state.
Minn. Stat. 176.041, subd. 3. All three of these requirements must be present for Minnesota jurisdiction to attach. In this case, the injured employee should be eligible for out of state workers compensation benefits.
AGAIN AS WITH MANY LEGAL TERMS, “HIRED IN MINNESOTA,” “MINNESOTA EMPLOYER,” AND “TEMPORARILY EMPLOYED OUTSIDE THE STATE” CAN BE INTERPRETED BY THE COURT DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC FACTS OF A CASE.
Call our workers’ compensation lawyers if you sustained an injury outside the state of Minnesota while working for a Minnesota employer. Our attorneys will review the specific facts of your case and determine whether you qualify for out of state workers compensation benefits.
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