Memo of the Month - letter about workers' compensation laws and employee event - Brief Article

Washington Monthly, Oct, 2000 by David Hodgkins

... via email

From: David Hodgkins

Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2000 5:34 PM

To: All Employees

Subject: Everyone Message: City Picnic and Workers Compensation

This everyone message is from David Hodgkins.

In regards to the events planned for the City Employee Picnic on Saturday, August 26, 2000 please be advised that there is no workers' compensation available for any injury which may occur while participating in these off-duty activities, pursuant to Labor Code Section 3600.

The relevant portions of Labor Code Section 3600 state that there is workers' compensation only if: "the injury does not arise out of voluntary participation in any off-duty recreational, social, or athletic activity not constituting part of the employee's work-related duties, except where these activities are a reasonable expectancy of, or are impliedly required by the employment." The City is not requiring participation in the events of Saturday, August 26, 2000, either explicitly or implicitly. All participation is purely voluntary on part of the employees taking part in those events.

David W. Hodgkins
Employee Relations Officer
City of Berkeley