Workers' compensation laws protect people who are injured on the job. They are designed to ensure that employees who are injured or disabled on the job are provided with fixed monetary awards, eliminating the need for litigation.

Workers' compensation insurance can help protect your business and employees in events such as these:

An employee is injured in an auto accident while running errands for the company

An associate develops carpal tunnel syndrome from working on the computer

An employee gets hurt while restocking the supply room

Workers' comp. insurance programs do not provide coverage for injuries that occur while an employee is not acting within the scope of employment - such as while playing football with friends on a day off.

Workers Compensation For Business Owners

In most states sole proprietors and partnerships are not required to purchase workers compensation unless and until they have employees who aren't owners. Most states will allow sole proprietors and partners to cover themselves for workers comp if they choose to. Some states don't require employees to be covered if they are paid solely on commission.

Workers Compensation For Businesses With Employees

Workers' compensation provides no-fault industrial insurance coverage for most employers and workers.

Workers who are unable to work due to accepted conditions related to an industrial injury or occupational disease may be eligible for partial wage replacement benefits.

Generally, all employees of the company, as legally defined, including corporate officers and directors, must be included in the policy unless they are the sole owners of the firm. In the case of sole owners, they may elect not to be covered.

Do I really need Workers? Compensation insurance for my contracting business in California?

In a nutshell, yes. You don't just need it, you MUST have it to do business in California. It is required by California state law, even if you have only one employee. Some contractors need to carry Workers' Compensation insurance even if they have no employees but themselves. Even temporary employees must be covered by your Workers? Compensation policy.

Why do employees have to go to specific doctors when they make a Workers? Compensation claim?

California's Division of Workers' Compensation has approved certain groups of doctors, or Medical Provider Networks (MPN), to treat employees who have submitted Workers? Compensation claims. Each insurance carrier has its own MPNs, but some allow employees to pre-designate their own personal doctor.