Collecting a paycheck could be a work related activity
Dandola v Workers' Compensation Board, App Div, 244 AD2d 729
William Dandola, a New York City Corrections Officer, slipped and fell, injuring his knee. According to the decision, Dandola fell in front of the Rikers Island correction facility while running to pick up his paycheck on his day off. Did Dandola suffer a work related injury entitling him to workers' compensation benefits? Yes, said the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board in a decision affirmed by the Appellate Division.
Although the City Department of Correction argued that Dandola's injury occurred while he was engaged in "an essentially personal errand on his day off," the Appellate Division said that it has been held that "an employee may be within the scope of employment when collecting his or her pay check while off duty." In this instance, the Court decided that Dandola was injured in the course of his employment.
Why? Because, the Court explained, Correction's "paycheck distribution procedures" indicate that although arrangements to mail an employee's paycheck to his or her residence can be made, the expected procedure is for employees to pick up their paycheck in person. According, said the Court, the Appeals Board's holding that Dandola's injury arose out of and in the course of his employment is supported by substantial evidence.
.
Summaries of, and commentaries on, selected court and administrative decisions and related matters affecting public employers and employees in New York State in particular and possibly in other jurisdictions in general.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [AI] IS NOT USED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN PREPARING NYPPL SUMMARIES OF JUDICIAL AND QUASI-JUDICIAL DECISIONS
CAUTION
Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the decisions summarized here. Accordingly, these summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.
THE MATERIAL ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. AGAIN, CHANGES IN LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND NEW COURT AND ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS MAY AFFECT THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS LAWBLOG. THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND THE USE OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE, OR CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING SUCH MATERIAL, DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.
NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard.
Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.
New York Public Personnel Law.
Email: publications@nycap.rr.com