Lassila v. Sears, Roebuck & Company

The employer seeks review of a decision of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission awarding benefits to the employee. The employee was injured during an unpaid, unsupervised lunch period in a cafeteria operated by the employer on its premises exclusively for the convenience of its employees. The only question before this court is whether the coverage of the compensation act extends to this injury. We hold that it does.

The lunch break, whether compensated or not, is a period of activity instrumental to employment just as a coffeebreak, 1 a visit to the toilet, 2 or a pause for a cigarette. 3…