Dept. of Labor and Industries v. AVUDES

**Court Protects Injured Farm Worker's Benefits** This case involved Eladio Abundes, a farm worker who was injured on the job and applied for workers' compensation benefits. The main dispute was about how to calculate his benefit payments. The employer and insurance company argued that Abundes worked on an "intermittent basis" (meaning irregular, on-and-off work), which would have resulted in lower benefit payments using an averaging method that looks at wages over a longer period. The Washington Supreme Court disagreed and ruled in favor of Abundes. The court determined that his work was not truly intermittent, so his benefits should be calculated using the standard monthly wage formula, which typically results in higher payments. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling is important because it prevents employers from unfairly categorizing workers as "intermittent" to reduce their workers' compensation benefits. Many farm workers and others in seasonal industries work regular schedules during certain periods, even if their work varies throughout the year. The court's decision ensures these workers receive fair compensation when injured, based on their actual recent wages rather than artificially reduced averages. This protection is especially valuable for agricultural workers who often face economic uncertainty.