No matter what kind of job you’re working, accidents happen. There’s always a possibility of injury. That’s why it’s vital that employers carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, is your employer required to carry workers comp insurance? And what happens if they don’t? Should you get hurt on the job, will you receive any benefits? This article answers these questions and more.
What kind of employers are not required to carry workers comp?
If an employer has less than three employees, they don’t legally have to carry workers’ comp.
This law applies to both full-time and part-time employees; so if your company has less than 3 employees (not including contractors), it’s possible that they may not have workers’ comp insurance.
While it is a law, there are still many companies with more than three employees who do not have workers’ compensation. While this is illegal, if your employer doesn’t have workers’ comp insurance, you won’t be protected if you’re hurt at work.
Why is workers’ comp important?
Workers’ comp protects the injured worker from having to pay for their medical bills out of pocket. It also covers lost wages while recovering from injuries sustained on the job. If you get hurt at work, you can file a claim against your employer through workers’ comp. This will help cover any medical expenses, as well as lost wages until you’re able to return to work.
What can you do to protect yourself against an uninsured employer?
Be sure to ask your employer whether or not they carry workman’s comp insurance. Even if this feels like an awkward question to ask, it’s better to ask and know than run the risk of working for an employer with no insurance.
It’s also important to note that contractors do not count towards the three employees count. If you’re a contract worker, or the number of employees not including contractors is less than three, it’s possible that your employer doesn’t have insurance.
We recommend being cautious about an employer who doesn’t carry workers’ compensation. You don’t want to find yourself injured on the job without any compensation. It may be worth finding a different job rather than taking the risk.
