Many companies encourage their employees to volunteer their time and talents in the communities where they live. Volunteering is a great team-building exercise and can also foster goodwill between the business and the surrounding area, but what happens if you are injured while volunteering for your company? In New Jersey, you may be able to receive Workers’ Compensation depending on the specific facts of your case and how your role is classified under the law.
Are Volunteers Covered Under New Jersey Workers’ Compensation?
New Jersey’s Workers’ Compensation law primarily protects employees, not true volunteers who receive no pay or significant benefits. However, some volunteers are treated as employees when they receive benefits such as stipends, expense reimbursements, room and board, or other forms of compensation.
Courts and insurers often look at whether the organization exercises substantial control over the volunteer’s schedule, duties, and how the work is performed. The more the company directs what you do, when you do it, and how you do it, the more likely you may be classified as an employee rather than a pure volunteer.
Company Events, Outings, and “Volunteer” Activities
New Jersey case law shows that employees injured at company-sponsored outings, fundraisers, or “fun days” may receive Workers’ Compensation when the event is sufficiently connected to their employment. Courts consider factors such as whether the employer organized or paid for the event, expected or encouraged attendance, or derived a clear business benefit from it.
If you were already an employee and you were hurt while volunteering at a company event—such as a picnic, charity run, or community service day—you may be covered if your participation advanced the company’s interests or was effectively part of your job. Even when the event is described as “voluntary,” the existence of workplace pressure to attend or a strong business purpose can weigh in favor of coverage.
Special Categories of New Jersey Volunteers
New Jersey law expressly covers some types of volunteers, such as certain volunteer public safety workers (for example, many volunteer firefighters), under special statutory provisions. Other nonprofit or charitable organizations may choose to extend Workers’ Compensation coverage to volunteers by purchasing appropriate insurance.
If you were injured while helping at a nonprofit event, community project, or similar activity, your rights will depend on the organization’s coverage, your role, and whether your service fits within any special statutory category. This analysis is very fact-specific and often requires legal review.
What to Do if You Were Hurt While Volunteering for Your Company
If you suffered an injury while volunteering for your employer or at a company-related event in New Jersey, you should act quickly to protect your rights:
- Report the injury to the company or event organizer as soon as possible and document how it occurred.
- Get prompt medical treatment and keep records of all diagnoses, work restrictions, and bills.
- Do not assume you are ineligible simply because you were called a “volunteer” or were not being paid that day.
- Speak with an experienced New Jersey Workers’ Compensation attorney who can evaluate whether you should legally be treated as an employee and whether Workers’ Compensation benefits are available.
Atlantic City Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at D’Amato Law Firm Fight for the Rights of Injured Workers
If you were hurt volunteering for your employer and have questions about your rights to benefits, the Atlantic City Workers’ Compensation lawyers at D’Amato Law Firm can help you. You can set up a free consultation by messaging us online or by calling us today at 609-926-3300. Our office is located in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and we serve clients in the surrounding areas.