Employers Liability Insurance – Protect Business and Your Employees

All businesses are required to have employers liability (EL) insurance. This particular business insurance covers compensation costs and any legal fees incurred if an employee falls ill or gets injured at their place of work. Furthermore, employer liability insurance will also protect the employer if the employee dies at their place of work. There are few exceptions when it comes to obtaining this type of insurance; one employee operations (sole proprietor) and businesses that employ immediate families are not obligated to secure this type of liability insurance. However, if you employ anyone other yourself or immediate family members, it is mandatory for you purchase employers liability insurance by law.

USA, Britain and many other countries force a policy of mandatory employers liability insurance acquisition.

So how can this insurance benefit you, the business owner? In case your employee(s) decides to file a lawsuit against you for an accident they suffered, the medical and legal and other costs will be covered by your insurance provider.

If you are not at fault for your employee’s injury, your costs can be substantially reduced or eliminated altogether. The determination of who is at fault in the case of an injured employee is a large determining factor in the cost and outcome of claims.

The punishment for not purchasing employers liability insurance is very severe. Your business will be fined heavily each day you do not have liability insurance for your employees. Furthermore, your business may be shut down entirely by health and safety regulators, in addition to heavy fines, if you fail to purchase employer liability insurance.

Make sure your insurance certificate is viewable by your employee(s). Put up a copy of it on notice boards in your office, and perhaps also on the company website.

EL insurance does not cover public. It only covers your employees. In the event a customer or third party is injured on your premises, your commercial/public liability coverage will cover the costs if legal action is taken.

Furthermore, EL insurance does not protect your from discrimination claims, wrongful terminations claims, harassment claims, etc.

Your insurer must be authorized, otherwise you will be breaking the law. Also, you would want to compare the premium costs of different insurers so that you get yourself a decent deal.

The beauty of EL insurance is that it protects you from having to directly pay costs in the event an employee is injured on the job. It protects both you, by being able to cover any costs without going out of business, and the employee, who may be unable to work temporarily.

About the author: Ben Ashfalk knows a lot about employers liability insurance and liability insurance coverage.