Coles supermarkets dislike compensating workers hurt on way to or from work
An interesting article from the Courier Mail (now deleted) we thought worth sharing…
Coles supermarkets objected to paying workers’ compensation claims for injuries sustained on the way to or from work or during breaks because the company says it ‘cannot control risks’.
Coles is among businesses arcing up about the Queensland system for compensating staff hurt on their journeys to work.
Push in Queensland to overhaul workers’ compensation rules
This push in Queensland to overhaul workers’ compensation rules appears to be going in the same direction as NSW.
Coles’ owner, Wesfarmers, has made a submission to a review of the state workers’ compensation scheme, pointing out other states restrict covering staff injured while commuting or on breaks.
“As an employer we have no control over the risks that employees are subjected to when on a journey to and from work or whilst on a recess.”
Journey claims were easily exploited
Wesfarmers wrote in their submission, on behalf of Coles which self-insures under Queensland’s scheme.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland argued these “journey claims” were easily exploited.
“Workers may at any time claim they are travelling to or from work and there is insufficient detail required under the legislation to prove otherwise,” CCIQ said.
Journey claims are an important safeguard
Queensland Council of Unions president John Battams countered that journey claims represented only 6 per cent of overall compensation demands.
He told The Courier-Mail significant numbers of Queenslanders had to travel long distances for work.
The QCU argued journey claims were an “important safeguard”.
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