In what scenario can an employee collect 0% from workers' compensation insurance?

An employee can collect 0% from workers' compensation insurance when the injury is willful and wanton. This principle is rooted in the notion that workers' compensation is designed to provide benefits to employees who suffer injuries arising out of their employment, regardless of fault. However, if an employee deliberately engages in reckless or intentional behavior that results in their own injury, the workers' compensation system does not provide coverage. This is based on the understanding that the purpose of the insurance is to protect employees from unforeseen accidents related to their job, not to reward those who may take unreasonable risks with no regard for safety.

In contrast, injuries stemming from negligence—whether it is the employee's negligence or a co-worker's—typically remain covered under workers' compensation. Working overtime does not inherently affect an employee's eligibility to collect benefits, nor does an injury occurring offsite if it is still within the course and scope of employment. Thus, the emphasis on willful and wanton behavior clarifies the boundaries of accountability within the workers' compensation framework.