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It’s your job to keep employees safe at work. However, accidents happen. Sometimes employees get injured or become ill on the job, and that’s why we have Workers Compensation Insurance.
This insurance covers medical costs and lost wages, as well as things like rehabilitation or physical therapy. It’s mandatory in many states, and highly recommended for all employers.
Read on to find out more about this type of coverage and what your business should look for in a policy.
Often called “Workman’s Comp,” this insurance has been available in the U.S. since 1949. This type of insurance provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured at work. In exchange, employees relinquish their right to sue their employer for negligence. Therefore, Workers Compensation Insurance protects employers from costly lawsuits, while also assuring employees that they are guaranteed some coverage in case of illness or injury on the job.
Workers Compensation Insurance is mandatory in most U.S. states, and laws requiring that businesses hold these policies are intended to eliminate the need for litigation. Employees who are injured or become disabled at work will not need to cover payment of their own medical bills, and will receive monetary compensation to cover loss of wages. This compensation might cover a portion of wages while they are out recovering from an injury, or it might last longer in situations where employees have suffered permanent physical damage.
Many states, however, offer an exception for businesses with a very small number of employees. For example, if you have three or less employees in Alabama, your business is not required to carry it. However, if you are based in Colorado, all public and private employers must provide coverage for their employees if one or more full or part-time persons are employed. In Illinois, the law is even more strictly worded: Workers Compensation Insurance is required in “every work situation. Additionally in some states, such as NY, failure to provide workers compensation results in strict and heavy fines applied by the state.
Some other common exemptions from mandated insurance are for agricultural employees, corporations or exempted members of limited liability companies or LLCs.
Getting into details...
There is no universal limit to the amount that can be paid to an injured employee. Instead, the amount is determined by the Workers Compensation Board in each state. The amount is usually determined by the employee’s salary and the severity of their injury or condition. For example, in the state of New York, an employee’s Workers Compensation Benefit would be calculated as two-thirds of their average weekly wage, subject to a state-determined maximum. That is in addition to medical bill payments.
However, employer liability coverage in Workers Compensation cases does have a limit. Basic policy limits required by law range from $100,000 per employee for bodily injury to $500,000. Since it’s easy to see how one or two big claims could exhaust the limits of liability, employers are frequently encouraged to purchase increased liability coverage for a nominal cost. For example, a 2 or 3 percent premium increase could boost coverage from $500,000 to $1 million.
This type of insurance comes in handy if…
Workers Compensation Insurance covers injuries that are sustained in the actual workplace, or anywhere the employee is acting in the “course and scope” of employment. In addition to accidents, many of these policies cover injuries or disabilities employees may sustain from events that occur while they are at work.
Depending on state statutes, this insurance will also cover certain illnesses and occupational diseases that employees suffer from due to their employment. In some cases, workers will be compensated for the effects of psychological stress caused by their job.
The legal definition of a work-related injury has expanded significantly in recent years. For example, employees who have been injured while playing on company-sponsored sports teams have been able to collect benefits.
This type of insurance covers your employees when one of them becomes ill or injured on the job, regardless of who’s fault it was. Employees can receive reimbursement for medical costs, as well as collect a portion of their wages while out of work due to a work-related injury or illness. This coverage is important if an employee is injured in a work-related accident, as they won’t have to pay for their medical expenses out of their own pocket.
In addition to an employee’s medical bills and wage compensation, Workers Compensation Insurance almost always provides death benefits to the dependents of employees who are killed in work-related accidents or illnesses. In some states, laws also limit the amount an injured employee can recover from an employer, and eliminate the liability of co-workers in most accidents, protecting both employers and fellow workers.
Just like most insurance policies, the cost will vary based on the nature of your business, its size, its risk factors and its location.
Typically, a small business owner with a few employees can expect to pay around $2,000 to $3,000 in Workers Compensation Insurance premiums annually. As an employers payroll increases, premiums will also increase.
It will naturally be more expensive to insure employees working on a particularly dangerous job where claims are frequent, such as construction. However, discounts are still available for businesses that implement work safety programs and enforce a drug free workplace. Premiums can also be reduced by purchasing a plan with a high deductible.
It’s highly recommended that you research the insurance laws in your state to find out of if you need coverage, and the requirements. As a small business owner, knowing the insurance laws of your state is essential to protecting yourself and your employees.
However, even if you aren’t mandated by law to carry a policy, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Purchasing a policy now will save you headaches and even higher costs down the road. Plus, it’s the right thing to do to ensure your employees are taken care of if something happens to them on the job.
Workers Compensation Insurance laws and requirements vary state by state. We’re expert in small business insurance, that’s why we decided to create these guides and help you make the best choice. Click on your state below and discover all the information you need:
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