Legal Definitions - special-errand doctrine

The special-errand doctrine is a principle within workers' compensation law. It provides that an employee may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they are injured while performing a specific task or duty for their employer, even if that task takes them away from their usual workplace or occurs outside of their normal working hours. This doctrine serves as an exception to the general rule that injuries sustained during an employee's regular commute to or from work, or while engaged in personal activities away from the job site, are typically not covered.

Here are some examples illustrating the special-errand doctrine:

• Example 1: Urgent Document Delivery

  An administrative assistant, Sarah, is about to leave her office for the day. Her manager asks her to make an urgent stop at a client's office, which is slightly out of her usual route home, to deliver a critical contract before the client's office closes. While driving to the client's office, Sarah is involved in a minor car accident and sustains a wrist injury.

  This scenario illustrates the special-errand doctrine because Sarah was performing a specific, urgent task requested by her employer (delivering the contract) that took her away from her normal commute and usual workplace. Her injury, sustained during this employer-directed mission, would likely be covered by workers' compensation.

• Example 2: Emergency Ingredient Pickup

  Mark, a chef at a restaurant, finishes his shift. Just as he's about to leave, the head chef realizes they are critically low on a unique, perishable ingredient needed for a special dish that evening. The head chef asks Mark to drive to a specialty market across town to pick up the ingredient immediately, offering to pay for his time and mileage. On his way to the market, Mark slips and falls in the parking lot, breaking his ankle.

  Mark's injury would fall under the special-errand doctrine. Even though his shift had ended and he was away from the restaurant, he was on a specific, employer-requested mission (picking up the ingredient) that was outside his regular duties and directly served the employer's immediate business needs.

• Example 3: Off-Hours Networking Event

  A marketing manager, Emily, is asked by her company to attend an industry networking event held at a hotel ballroom on a Saturday evening. This event is outside her regular work hours and typical office location, but her attendance is expected to generate new business leads for the company. While at the event, Emily trips on a loose carpet and sprains her ankle.

  Emily's injury would likely be covered by the special-errand doctrine. Although she was not at her usual workplace or working during her standard hours, she was performing a special duty (representing the company at a networking event) specifically requested by her employer for the company's benefit, making her injury compensable.