Under the Personal Convenience Doctrine, does an injury from changing oil count as compensable?

• A. Yes
• B. Only if the car is on company property
• C. No
• D. Only if the employee is on a break

Answer: (C)

The Personal Convenience Doctrine narrows workers’ compensation coverage to injuries that happen while the employee is performing a task reasonably incidental to work or necessary for the employee’s comfort during the workday. Changing oil is a personal maintenance task for the employee’s own vehicle, not something tied to job duties or necessary for performing the employer’s work. It isn’t reasonably incidental to employment. So an injury from changing oil isn’t compensable, even if it occurs on company property or during a break—the location or timing alone doesn’t convert a private task into a work-related injury under this doctrine.