An employee traveling on business at the employer’s request is injured while taking a lunch break at a restaurant. The claim would be:

• A. Not compensable because of the going and coming rule
• B. Not compensable because the employee was on a lunch break
• C. Compensable due to bunkhouse rule
• D. Compensable due to commercial traveler rule

Answer: (D)

Being on business travel makes the trip part of the job even during meals or rest breaks. In California workers’ compensation, the commercial traveler rule extends coverage to injuries that occur while a traveling employee is on business away from the employer’s premises, including times spent on meals or taking a break. Because the employee was traveling for the employer and the lunch break at a restaurant occurred during that business trip, the injury is still in the scope of employment and is compensable. The going-and-coming rule wouldn’t apply here since the injury happened during a business trip, not a ordinary commute, and the bunkhouse rule isn’t relevant because there’s no employer-provided on-site housing involved.