Which principle describes compensability without regard to negligence when caused by employment?

• A. Arising out of or in the course of employment
• B. Proximate cause by employment
• C. Off-duty activity
• D. Negligence required

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is the no-fault nature of workers’ compensation: benefits flow if the injury is tied to employment, even if the employee was negligent. In workers’ comp, compensability rests on two things: the injury must arise out of the employment (the risk is related to the job itself) and it must occur in the course of employment (during work time or while performing job duties). When these conditions are met, the employee is entitled to benefits without proving fault, which is why negligence does not matter. This is why the principle described is the one that ties compensability to employment without regard to fault. The other concepts—tort-style proximate cause, injuries happening off the job, or requiring negligence—don’t fit the standard workers’ compensation framework.