Wisconsin Workers Compensation

Wisconsin Workers Compensation at a Glance

• Requirements for Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation

  Wisconsin requires most employers with one or more employees to carry Workers' Compensation coverage. Out-of-state employers who have employees working in Wisconsin are also required to carry coverage for those employees. Sole proprietors without employees are not required to carry Workers’ Compensation coverage in Wisconsin but can choose to cover themselves as employees.

• Exceptions to Workers’ Compensation requirements in Wisconsin

  Sole proprietors and owner-operators for independent trucking businesses are not required to carry Workers' Compensation coverage on themselves but can choose to be covered as an employee of the business.

• Advise your employees of your Workers’ Compensation coverage

  Be sure existing employees and new hires are aware that they have coverage for workplace injuries and work-related illnesses. Wisconsin recommends that both employers and employees keep records of any workplace injuries, including the nature and date of the injury, as well as circumstances which may have contributed to the injury.

• Avoid penalties for Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation non-compliance

  A Wisconsin employer that does not carry required Workers’ Compensation coverage for its employees can be subject to penalties of twice the amount of the premium not paid during an uninsured time period or $750, whichever amount is greater. Employers who do not comply with Wisconsin's Workers’ Compensation requirements can be personally liable for paying the cost of Workers' Compensation benefits for injured employees.