Essential Protection Against Employers Liability Claims
Employers liability insurance covers the cost of compensation payments and legal expenses, arising from an employee’s liability claim against you for work-related injuries or illness.
In most cases, it’s a legal requirement for businesses with employees and comes as part of a packaged insurance product.
Key Features and Benefits
- Access to a 24-hour legal helpline.
- Range of cover available, often £10,000,000 as standard.
- Legal defence costs and compensation cover.
- £250 court attendance costs per day to defend a claim.
- Legal costs in connection with criminal inquiry into manslaughter/corporate manslaughter, culpable homicide or corporate homicide.
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What is Employers Liability Insurance?
Employers liability cover ensures your business can fulfil your legal and financial obligations when employees are harmed due to their work activities. Here are a few common risks that employers liability insurance typically covers:
- Workplace injuries: Injuries or accidents that occur on the job, such as slips, falls, or equipment-related incidents.
- Occupational illnesses: Illnesses or diseases that employees may develop as a result of their work activities, such as respiratory problems, repetitive strain injuries, or exposure to harmful substances.
- Legal expenses: Costs associated with defending against employee claims, including legal fees, court expenses, and settlements or judgements.
- Medical expenses: Medical costs incurred by employees due to work-related injuries or illnesses, such as hospitalisation, doctor visits, medications, or rehabilitation.
- Compensation pay-outs: Awarded to employees for pain and suffering, loss of earnings, or long-term disability resulting from work-related incidents.
Temporary staff and contractors: Temporary workers, subcontractors, or contractors working on behalf of the insured employer. As soon as you become an employer, you should have employers liability insurance in place and cover should be for at least £5 million. You are at risk of being fined £2,500 a day for not being properly insured.
By having employers liability insurance in place, you can both safeguard your business and demonstrate your commitment to the well-being and safety of your workforce.
What's Not Covered?
Public liability
While public liability insurance covers you for any injury or damage to third parties, it doesn’t cover the people you employ. That's why employers liability cover is so important.
Personal accident
Employers liability insurance will not cover you if you’re injured outside of your business activities. You’ll need to take out a personal accident policy to keep money coming in if you are unable to work due to your injuries.
Your property and equipment
You should consider buildings cover and/ or tools and equipment cover. This can cover the cost of repair or replacement should you need to make a claim for loss or damage to your own property and equipment, as a result of your business activities.
Not sure what insurance you need?
Call us on 0330 1730 614 to discuss what kind of cover you may need, our friendly team is always happy to help.
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Employers Liability Insurance FAQs
Yes. Employers liability is a compulsory insurance for anyone employing staff, including volunteers. However, if you’re not a limited company and only have immediate family members working for you, it’s not a legal requirement.
It’s still a good idea to have the protection in place in case one of your team falls ill or gets injured while at work. Your legal costs and any compensation pay-outs will be covered.
There are a few exceptions to the rule including:
- A limited company, with only one person employed who owns more than 50% share of the capital.
- Self-employed who work on their own and do not employ anyone else for work.
- Equal partnerships with no employees.
- A company with only direct family members.
Even if your business falls within one of these categories, it may still be a good idea to take out the cover.
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