INJURIES SUSTAINED IN EGG TOSS GAME – ARE THEY COMPENSABLE?

            In a case recently decided by the Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission, Heestand v Cintas Corporation #2, 2018 ACO #43, the Commission decided the issue of whether injuries sustained while participating in an egg toss game on the employer’s premises during a safety day event for the employer were compensable.

            The employee began working for Cintas in June 2008. At the time of the injury, she was working as a custodian. Her job duties consisted of cleaning the building. Her job involved physical labor, including lifting bags weighing up to 60 pounds.

            On 06/28/13, the employee was taking her usual 1:00 p.m. break in the breakroom. She was invited by the human resources manager to participate in Safety Day games. The employer always provided free lunch on Safety Day and encouraged people to participate. Prizes were offered for those who won the sponsored contests. One of the games was an egg toss. The general manager of the plant was leading the egg toss game. Following each toss, he would direct the participants to step back several steps to make it more difficult. When the employee was stepping back and the egg was tossed, she had to step back farther and jump in order to catch it. She caught it, but as she leapt to catch it, she collided with a sign behind her, causing her to fall to the ground onto her right side. She applied ice and went home.

            The employee injured her right shoulder and right hip. She treated with an orthopedic surgeon. She underwent injections to her right shoulder and right hip, and physical therapy. She eventually underwent a right shoulder rotator cuff repair surgery. At the time this case was tried on March 4, 2015, the employee was still off work.

            MCL 418.301(3) provides as follows:

An employee going to or from his or her work, while on the premises where the employee’s work is to be performed, and within a reasonable time before and after his or her working hours, is presumed to be in the course of his or her employment. Notwithstanding this presumption, an injury incurred in the pursuit of an activity the major purpose of which is social or recreational is not covered under this Act. Any cause of action brought for such an injury is not subject to §131. (Emphasis added.)

The employee’s claim for workers’ compensation benefits was disputed on the basis that the major purpose of her activity at the time of the injury was social or recreational.

The trial magistrate disagreed and found that the major purpose of the employee’s activities was not social or recreational, and awarded benefits.

The magistrate explained his decision as follows:

Granted, it is a thin line between merely encouraged and being expected to participate in activities, but I do believe in this case the plaintiff did feel somewhat obligated to join in the activities based upon this personal invitation. Here the plaintiff’s decision to “accept” this personal invitation showed her solidarity, her willingness to comply with the employer’s request, which was in fact a reaffirmation of the employer’s authority. Furthermore, she was still being paid during the time that this occurred and I find that all of these factors transform the activity in one that is more occupational than recreational, and therefore arose out of and in the course of employment, taking it outside of the §301(3) defense. I believe it is one thing to give an open invitation to all employees to participate and those who participate of their own volition but are injured would be subject to the exclusion of §301(3). However, when individuals are singled out and more or less prodded into participation, the voluntary aspect disappears. (Emphasis added.)

A three member panel of the Appellation Commission reversed the magistrate’s decision, holding that the magistrate erred by concluding that the major purpose of the egg toss activity the employee was engaged in at the time of her injury was not social or recreational. The Appellate Commission found that it was social and recreational.

The Appellate Commission found the following evidence compelling:

Testimony of plaintiff and defendant witnesses consistently said plaintiff was not ordered to participate. She was invited. All willing and able employees were encouraged to participate. However, all invited employees were also allowed to decline the invitation without consequence. Plaintiff said no incentives, such as extra pay or days off, were given to participants. A number of first shift employees chose not to participate. Plaintiff did not disagree that only 28 of 57 employees on plaintiff’s shift participated in the egg toss game. The record does not show any employee who chose not to participate in the game suffered any negative consequence or detriment for making that choice. Plaintiff said she was not threatened with harm or loss of her job if she chose not to participate, and neither was anyone else. The record does not support [with proper evidence, the magistrate’s] finding plaintiff was singled out from other employees and compelled (or prodded) to participate in the egg toss game. This record fails to support, [with proper evidence, the magistrate’s] finding that Cintas did anything more than invite and encourage plaintiff and all other first shift employees to participate in the egg toss game. Therefore, per §861a(3), we reverse the Magistrate’s findings that Cintas singled plaintiff out and compelled, coerced, or prodded her to participate in the egg toss game.

The Appellate Commission found that the major purpose of the activity the employee was engaged in at the time of her injury was social and recreational. The Appellate Commission found that the employer did nothing more than invite and encourage its employee to participate in a social or recreational activity.

During her testimony at trial, when the employee was asked what the major purpose of the egg toss game was, “she thought it was to get everybody together to help people learn how to work together. When asked if it was for recreational purposes, she responded, ‘I guess’”.

In summary, many employers offer to their employees morale and teambuilding activities and events, including games, community projects, barbecues, etc. This decision informs employers that, if the major purpose of the activity is social or recreational, participation is not mandatory, although encouraged, and employees can decline to participate without consequence, injuries incurred in the course of such activities are most likely not to be found to be compensable under the Workers’ Compensation Statute.