Legal Definitions - bunkhouse rule

The bunkhouse rule is a principle that states that if an employee is injured while living in their employer's housing, the injury is compensable even if it occurs during off-duty hours.

For example, if a ranch hand lives in a bunkhouse provided by their employer and they slip and fall in the bathroom while getting ready for bed, the injury would be compensable under the bunkhouse rule. Even though the injury occurred during the employee's personal time, it happened in the employer's housing and is therefore covered.

Another example could be a factory worker who lives in company-provided housing and is injured while cooking dinner in their kitchen. Again, because the injury occurred in the employer's housing, it would be compensable under the bunkhouse rule.

The bunkhouse rule is important because it ensures that employees who live in employer-provided housing are protected and compensated for any injuries that occur in that housing, even if they are off-duty at the time of the injury.