If you are a business owner and employ workers, you may wonder if you are required to carry Workers' Compensation coverage. As a general rule, employers with five or more employees must carry it. For the purposes of Workers' Compensation, an employee is any full or part-time worker, including seasonal and temporary workers. There are exceptions for a small group of service employees, such as farm laborers, domestic servants and commercial motor-carrier owner-operators. Another exception is that a contractor must carry the coverage, even if they only have one employee because of the high likelihood of workplace injuries.
Failing to provide coverage when required is a class A misdemeanor. The penalty fine is equal to three times the annual premium you should have paid, up to $50,000. In addition to the criminal charge and fines, you will also be held responsible for the costs of any injuries your employees sustained at work during the time you were not covered. Repeat violations can earn you a class D felony.
If you are a business owner and you aren't sure about whether you are required to provide Workers' Compensation coverage for your employees, you can call the Division of Workers' Compensation at 573-751-4231 or 888-837-6069 for assistance. You can also visit their website.
If you or a loved one are seriously injured in a work place accident, you should contact an attorney experience in this area of the law. The attorneys at Tatlow, Gump, Faiella & Wheelan will work closely with you to ensure that your legal rights are protected and that you recover all the benefits available for your injuries.
