Legal Definitions - dual-purpose doctrine

The dual-purpose doctrine is a legal principle that holds an employer responsible for an employee'sinjury, even if the injury occurs during a trip or activity that serves both a business purpose and a personal purpose for the employee.

This doctrine recognizes that sometimes, an employee's actions can simultaneously benefit the employer's business and fulfill a personal need. If an injury happens during such an activity, and the business purpose is a significant factor, the employer may still be liable, particularly in the context of workers' compensation claims.

Here are some examples illustrating the dual-purpose doctrine:

• Example 1: Business Travel with a Personal Stop

  A marketing manager is required to travel by car from their home office to a client presentation in a city two hours away. On the way, they decide to make a brief stop at a dry cleaner that is slightly off their direct route to pick up personal clothes. After leaving the dry cleaner and resuming their journey towards the client, they are involved in a car accident.

  How it illustrates the doctrine: The primary purpose of the trip was clearly business-related (the client presentation). While the stop at the dry cleaner was for a personal errand, it was a minor deviation that did not fundamentally alter the overall business nature of the journey. Under the dual-purpose doctrine, the employer would likely still be liable for the manager's injuries from the accident because the business trip was a significant contributing factor to being on the road at that time.

• Example 2: Conference Attendance with Leisure Time

  An engineer attends a mandatory three-day industry conference in another state. The company pays for their travel, accommodation, and conference fees. On the second evening, after all scheduled conference sessions have concluded for the day, the engineer decides to visit a local historical landmark, which is a personal interest. While walking from their hotel to the landmark, they trip and suffer an ankle injury.

  How it illustrates the doctrine: The entire trip is for a business purpose (attending the conference). Although visiting the landmark is a personal leisure activity, it occurs during the period the employee is away from home on official company business. The need to be in that city for the conference created the opportunity for the personal activity. Therefore, the injury could fall under the dual-purpose doctrine, making the employer potentially liable.

• Example 3: Remote Work and Incidental Personal Needs

  A software developer is sent by their company to work remotely for two weeks at a temporary satellite office located in a different city. During their lunch break, they walk to a nearby grocery store to buy ingredients for their dinner that evening, as they are responsible for their own meals while away. On the way back to the satellite office, they slip on a wet pavement and injure their knee.

  How it illustrates the doctrine: The developer is in the remote city solely for a business purpose. While buying groceries is a personal need, it is an activity incidental to living and working away from home on a business assignment. The employer's requirement for the employee to be in that remote location for work makes the act of obtaining food a necessary part of sustaining themselves during the business trip. Thus, the injury could be covered under the dual-purpose doctrine.