Accident at Work: Can My Company Reclaim Hospital Expenses and What Are Their Responsibilities?

I was in an outside canteen during office hours and met with an accident. My boss deposited 10k in the hospital for admission.

Query on Reimbursement and Company Responsibilities

I want to know whether a private IT company can claim back that money. What are their responsibilities in such a case?

Are you covered under any mediclaim policy? If yes, then you can reimburse the same from the insurance company.

Please provide the details fully. What is the meaning of being outside the canteen during working hours? Are you working in the canteen of the IT company or in another position? Was it during your break time when you met with an accident?

In fact, while you are on duty, you are not supposed to be outside or in the canteen. Therefore, you may not be eligible for any compensation. In the case of an emergency, your boss has deposited Rs. 10,000 on humanitarian grounds and not as a duty. Hopefully, your company has a Group Personal Accident (GPA) policy for all employees. According to that policy, you can claim the expenses incurred on treatment.

Regards

Dear Harsha, I fully agree with Bhaskar's comment. You have not given any more information except "I was in an outside canteen during office hours and met an accident."

Clarification Needed on Incident Details

What do you mean by an "outside canteen"? Does it mean a private place or an eatery, away from your place of work? What do you mean by "met an accident"? What kind of accident? Did any motor vehicle or bike collide with you causing injury? Or, was there any kind of scuffle or fight with others, which caused injury to you?

Unless you provide full information and the circumstances, it would be difficult for anyone to ascertain whether it's an injury caused in the course of employment or to give any useful advice. As already stated by others, if you have any medical insurance of your own or provided by the company, you may take benefit from it.

Regarding the Money Deposited by Your Boss

About your query regarding the money deposited by your boss, it appears that he may have done so on his own so that you get prompt medical help. Why did you not ask your boss about it? Whether to return the money to him if it's his own personal fund, or the amount can be adjusted from the insurance claims made on behalf of the company?

Such delay on one's part on monetary matters casts aspersions on one's integrity and character and lets people point accusing fingers. Hope you find the above useful. In case of further discussion, do come back with more facts and information.

Warm regards.

The matter you have referred to comes under the purview of "notional extension of workplace." The Employee Compensation Act defines injury/accident at the workplace as an injury arising out of and during the course of employment, lasting for 3 days (72 hours) or more. In order to correlate the details, you need to clarify the following:

1. Is the canteen a part of your office campus that is usually used by employees for refreshment, or is there another canteen provided by the management?
2. What kind of accident occurred? Was it a road accident or something else?
3. What are the working hours and lunch/refreshment break hours?
4. Can you relate your proximity to the canteen with your work in some manner? In other words, what is the nature of your work?

We look forward to hearing from you so that we can provide better assistance.

Regards,
AK Jain

As other members have pointed out, unless you furnish the facts completely, you are unlikely to get the right response.

Condition 1: Canteen as Workplace Extension

As a member has pointed out, if the canteen is run inside your company premises, it will be considered an extension of your workplace.

Condition 2: Timing of Injury

It is unclear from your statement whether you suffered the injury during a lunch break (as lunch break is sandwiched between the working hours of the day). If you have suffered an injury during your lunch break, it will be treated as an employment injury provided Condition 1 is satisfied. However, if it has happened either before or after the scheduled lunch break, the reasons for your being there need to be explained appropriately.

Condition 3: Employee Compensation Act vs. Personal Accident Policy

The difference between the Employee Compensation Act and Personal Accident Policy is that the Employee Compensation Act confines to injuries suffered in the course and out of employment and includes notional extension, whereas Personal Accident Policy coverage extends 24 hours worldwide and does not limit injuries suffered in the course and out of employment. In other words, it covers injuries suffered due to an accident on a day off even outside the work premises.

Hence, if you pose your question suitably, members will respond appropriately.

Regarding Financial Matters

Regarding the amount deposited by your boss, you may have to check it out with him, as he would have extended timely help with his personal resources.

Regarding the reimbursement of the amount from the company, the right source will, of course, be your HR department.

Regards