Rochele Frett v. State Farm Employee Workers' Compensation

**State Farm Employee Loses Workers' Compensation Case Over Lunch Break Injury** Rochele Frett, a State Farm employee, was injured while on her scheduled lunch break at work. She filed for workers' compensation benefits, arguing that since the injury happened on company property, it should be covered under the state's workers' compensation system. The Georgia Court of Appeals disagreed and ruled against Frett. The court determined that because she was injured during a scheduled lunch break, the injury was not compensable under workers' compensation law. The court applied what's known as the "scheduled break exception," which means that even though the injury occurred on the employer's premises, workers' compensation benefits were not available because it happened during an official break period. This ruling is significant for workers because it clarifies the limits of workers' compensation coverage. Even if you're injured on company property, you may not be entitled to benefits if the injury occurs during scheduled breaks like lunch periods. Workers should understand that their location during an injury isn't the only factor that determines coverage – the timing and circumstances matter too. This case reinforces that workers' compensation typically only covers injuries that happen while actively performing work duties.