Do I Need Workers’ Comp for One Employee in Florida?

If you or someone you know owns a business and is looking for workers’ compensation insurance for their employees, we can help. At NPN Brokers, we strive to work alongside our clients to provide them with the right insurance policy. Even if you only have one employee, you may be required to maintain a policy. The Florida workers’ comp insurance brokers at NPN Brokers can explain the workers’ comp requirements in the State of Florida. If you are unsure whether your company needs a workers’ compensation policy, keep reading to find out more.

Is It Mandatory to Provide Workers’ Compensation Insurance in All Situations?

If you are a Florida employer with four or more employees, you are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance. There may be cases where employers wonder if they need to provide this insurance to just one employee. Generally, only companies that work in a construction-related field are required to have a workers’ comp policy for just one employee; these standards are more relaxed for agricultural businesses and more generalized industries. Our insurance brokers can help you understand the employee number requirements for workers’ comp.

Do you need to provide workman’s comp insurance in all situations where a worker is injured at the workplace? Whether you should provide workers’ compensation or not will depend heavily on different factors. For instance, it is possible that an employee suffered an injury at the workplace requiring support from the workers’ compensation system. However, that employee must be proactive in notifying their superiors and meeting all the requirements set forth by the workman’s comp system. If the employee let the time window lapse, their claim may be dismissed under the workers’ compensation system.

At NPN Brokers, we can help you understand all the elements that come into play when providing workers’ compensation insurance to your employees. Keep in mind there are no set rates for workman’s comp insurance in Florida. We can help you get the insurance that better suits your specific needs.

Understanding Workers’ Comp Laws in Florida

Every year, thousands of hard-working employees are injured or develop an illness at the workplace. This is a sad but real part of many Floridians’ lives. There is no telling when, where, and how an accident at the workplace might happen. Therefore, workers all around Florida need protection in case an unexpected accident occurs. Injured workers can recover compensation through what is known as workers’ compensation insurance, sometimes called workman’s comp.

Workers’ compensation insurance is an employer-provided benefit dedicated to assisting employees who are injured at the workplace. Additionally, workman’s comp also assists those who develop an illness at the workplace. In Florida, most employers with four or more employees must provide workers’ compensation insurance. The following represent the qualifying process all injured employees must follow to receive the benefits provided by the workman’s comp system:

Claimant Must Be an Employee

To be eligible for benefits under the worker’s compensation system, you must be an employee as defined by law. Under this system, an employee is a person who provides services to a for-profit business entity. In other words, if you are working for a business entity and receive payment for your service, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. There are, however, some people who may not qualify for the benefits provided by the system. Such is the case for workers’ compensation for contractors; under workman’s comp guidelines, independent contractors are not eligible for these benefits.

Employer Must Have a Workers’ Compensation Policy

To participate in the benefits provided by the workman’s comp system, an employer must provide such a policy. If you don’t carry this insurance or otherwise deny coverage, you may face severe legal consequences. For instance, if you don’t provide workman’s comp to your employees, you can face what is known as a “stop-work” mandate. This order can compel you to cease business operations until you meet all legal requirements. Additionally, you could be subject to costly fees.

Injury or Condition Must Be Work-Related

This requirement is straightforward. Any injury or illness for which your employee requests assistance must be directly related to their job. Any injuries or conditions that take place outside the workplace will not be covered under workers’ compensation. This requirement is not subject to interpretation.

Employee Must Meet Notice Requirements

The workers’ compensation system requires all claimants to notify their employer about their accident. Timely notification is critical during the claim process. Generally, an injured worker has up to 30 days to notify their employer about the accident. The notification must be made in writing and state the victim’s name, the type of accident, the extent of the injuries, and the date, place, and time of the incident. If an injured worker does not meet this requirement, they may not be eligible for workers’ compensation assistance.

Workers’ Comp Insurance Brokers Serving Florida Employers

At NPN Brokers, we strive to provide high-quality services to all of our clients. We understand that you likely need insurance that covers your employees at a cost you can afford. Our brokers will work to quickly provide you with a workers’ compensation insurance policy tailor-made to your needs. To learn more about all of our services and how we can help you get the right coverage for your business, call NPN Brokers today at (561) 990-3022.