Life is full of surprises, some good, some not so good. We all have those days when something comes up, whether it’s an illness or an accident, it’s important to have protection not only for the employer, but the employee, and also the dependent family. Workers compensation is mandatory to have in order to protect employees. Even if you have only one employee, it is required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance.
See also: Workers’ Comp: Employees vs. Independent Contractors
See also: Accident Insurance For Your Business
For the Construction and Contracting Professional
Anyone in this industry knows the risks of injuries or accidents. From malfunctioning equipment to falls, the construction and contracting business could be held responsible. Safety training and protective equipment can only go so far to avoid the risks of injuries or accidents. When it comes to construction and contracting professionals, workers’ comp covers the cost of:
•Medical expenses relating to the employees’ on-the-job injuries and work-related illnesses.
•Wages your employee would have earned if they were able to perform their work.
•Legal fees should your employee file a lawsuit against your construction & contracting business for their work-related injury or illness.
See also: HWP Welcomes Mapfre Insurance
For the Office Workers Out There
There are 4 major disability compensation programs to cover the average office worker. For example, if an employee acquires an occupational disease or gets injured at work, The United States Department of Labor offers:
•Wage replacement benefits
•Medical treatment
•Vocational rehabilitation
•Other benefits
Examples of other programs include:
•Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation
•Federal Employees’ Compensation Program
•Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Program
•Black Lung Benefits Program
See also: Insurance Providers Who Care- Community Outreach
The 6 basic benefits that worker’s comp insurance provides are permanent disability benefits, temporary disability benefits, supplemental job displacement benefits or vocational rehabilitation and death benefits. The Division of Workers’ Compensation was created in order to protect the employees, their dependent family as well as the employer. Fortunately workers’ compensation claims are resolved without any problems. Should there be a disagreement between the employer and employee, the Division of Workers’ Compensation provides an Information and Assistance Unit to help resolve any issues. So, whether you are the employer, employee or dependent family, make sure to stay safe and be covered with the proper workers’ compensation policy thats best for you!
See also: Reduce the Cost of Workers Compensation – Encourage a Safe Work Environment
Creating a safe work environment is key – most carriers can assist with this by providing useful information to the employer, employee handouts, and sometimes even conducting a site safety visit. It is also crucial to post your Workers Compensation employee information posters somewhere in the workplace that is highly visible by employees (ex. break room).
By making an effort to keep the workplace a safe environment for employees, employers will be able to take advantage of lower premiums as well as a happier work force.
(Featured Image) by Charles Ebbets