Workers’ Compensation Insurance is mandatory in the State of California and we help you select a policy that’s right for you.

Regardless of your type of business, if you do business in California and have employees you need Workers’ Compensation. We have over 15 workers’ compensation companies at our fingertips to make sure you get the best value for your company.

Helping you craft a return-to-work program, connecting you with tools to make your business safe and avoid claims that cost you in productivity, time to find a replacement employee to pick up the slack, effect on team morale as well as potential changes to your experience modification are all areas we work with our clients on.

Workers’ Compensation is so much more than just a price. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Let us help you keep your business healthy with a workers compensation plan that keeps the team working!

Frequently Asked Questions

How are workers’ compensation premiums calculated?

Workers’ compensation insurance premiums are calculated based on employees’ classifications. The classification is determined based on the type of work they perform. The premium is expressed in dollars of payroll.

Can an injured employee sue my business if I have workers’ compensation?

With a few important exceptions, an employee is barred from suing his/her employer for a workplace injury. The system was set up as a trade-off in which an injured employee cannot sue their employer but has the right for a workers’ compensation benefit. It is considered a non-fault system which disregards who was at fault for these injuries.

What kind of payment options do I have for workers’ compensation?

You have several options to pay for workers’ compensation. Traditionally your workers’ compensation payments require a deposit and estimated premium payments. Pay-as-you-go or pay-for-pay are payments directly tied to actual payroll and is a more accurate assessment of premiums required.

When do I need workers’ compensation for my employees in California?

All California employers with one or more employees must provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees under California Labor Code Section 3700. An exception is sole proprietor business owners. A sole proprietor can be included in the policy but is not required to do so. Often health, life and/or disability income insurance policies may be a better course of action.

Do I need to cover independent contractors for workers’ compensation?

Independent contractors are not eligible for workers’ compensation coverage and employers are not required to insure them; however, some employers might mistakenly misclassify an independent contractor who should have been classified as an employee. In that case, the person performing the work should have been included in the company’s workers’ compensation insurance. To ensure that as a business you are doing your due diligence it is very important you request a certificate of insurance for every independent contractor you use to ensure they have both Business Liability as well as Workers Compensation insurance.

Click here to download a sample waiver form that we recommend you fill out with every independent contractor you work with to ensure that their payroll will not be included in your end of term Payroll audit.

Learn more about Independent Contractor versus Employee on the State of CA Department of Industrial Relations website.

What is employers’ liability on a workers’ compensation policy?

There are two key exposures for the employer. The first one is the employer’s liability as outlined in the workers’ compensation law, and the second one is additional liabilities arising for the employer which are not covered under this statute.

How does an experienced modification work?

An experience modification compares actual losses to expected losses. Statistical data shows the frequency and cost of injuries in a certain industry or business area. These numbers show a predicted risk. The modification also takes in consideration for example actual losses within a past year or applicable period.