Two employees are involved in a workplace altercation about a task at work; A hits B. Who is entitled to workers' compensation benefits?

Two employees are involved in a workplace altercation about a task at work; A hits B. Who is entitled to workers' compensation benefits?

• A. a
• B. b
• C. Both
• D. Neither

Answer: (B)

When an injury happens on the job, workers’ compensation generally covers it, even if a coworker caused the harm. The benefits go to the employee who was injured, not to the person who caused the harm. So, in a workplace altercation where one employee strikes another, the injured employee is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The attacker wouldn’t receive workers’ comp for injuries from that incident, though he could face civil liability or other remedies. The only reason coverage wouldn’t apply is if the injury wasn’t connected to work or was intentionally self-inflicted by the injured employee, which isn’t the case here.

When an injury happens on the job, workers’ compensation generally covers it, even if a coworker caused the harm. The benefits go to the employee who was injured, not to the person who caused the harm. So, in a workplace altercation where one employee strikes another, the injured employee is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The attacker wouldn’t receive workers’ comp for injuries from that incident, though he could face civil liability or other remedies. The only reason coverage wouldn’t apply is if the injury wasn’t connected to work or was intentionally self-inflicted by the injured employee, which isn’t the case here.