A recent Illinois appellate ruling is drawing attention to how workers’ compensation laws apply to injuries that occur outside designated workplace routes. The case involved a Ford plant employee who was hurt after leaving a paved walkway to take a shortcut across a gravel path while heading to his car. The court found the injury was not compensable because the path was created by employees for personal convenience and was not maintained or directed by the employer. The decision reinforces how small deviations from approved access routes can affect eligibility for benefits and highlights the value of clearly marked walkways and consistent safety policies for employers seeking to manage workers’ compensation risk. 1/28/2026