An employee's compensation may be reduced by what percentage if the injury resulted from serious and willful misconduct?

• A. one-half
• B. No reduction
• C. No greater than 75%
• D. None of the above

Answer: (B)

In cases where an employee's injury arises from serious and willful misconduct, the appropriate response regarding compensation indicates that there would be no reduction in benefits. This policy aligns with the principle that an employee should not be penalized in their compensation for injuries that occur as a result of their own intentional actions that lead to harm, even if those actions are deemed reckless or negligent.

The rationale behind this approach is rooted in workers' compensation laws, which typically protect employees from losing their rights to benefits due to their own misconduct unless specified otherwise. Therefore, employees retain their full compensation benefits despite the circumstances surrounding the injury. This provides security and assurance to workers, ensuring they are covered regardless of the complexities of their actions leading to an injury at work.

The other choices suggest varying degrees of compensation reduction, which do not align with the established legal protections offered within workers' compensation frameworks for serious and willful misconduct situations.