Employers Liability Insurance
What does employers liability insurance cover and should we buy?
Workplace protection in employers' liability insurance explained
Employers' liability insurance is one of the few types of compulsory insurance under UK law. Combined with public liability insurance they play an important role ensuring that businesses can meet compensation awards that arise in the workplace. It is worth noting employers are responsible not only for their own acts of negligence, but also for those of their employees.
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What is employers' liability insurance?
Employers' liability insurance is a compulsory legal requirement for any business that has employees, and will offer financial protection against compensation claims arising from injury or illness at work.
The compensation payments awarded by the courts may include payments for medical bills, lost income from working, and their legal fees. Claims can become very expensive if a person is unable to return to work and support themselves.
At get indemnity™ employers' liability insurance quotes starts from £80 per year or £6.67 per month. Commonly purchased by businesses under an office insurance policy if your activities are clerical based.
What does compulsory employers' liability insurance cover?
Coverage for employers' liability insurance means your organisation is protected from having to make significant compensation payments because of workplace injury or illness of your employees. If you are found not to have the correct cover at work, you can be fined up to £2,500 per employee per day.
Legal defence costs
Coverage for employers' liability will seek to defend the allegations made against you, which can be very costly and time consuming.
Compensation awards
Damages awarded to compensate the claimant can include past and future medical expenses, and lost income from working.
£10 million cover
You are required to buy a minimum £5 million cover. However, it's common for insurers to provide £10 million at no additional cost.
Looking for employers' liability insurance? Talk to one of our expert brokers about your business needs
We work with a wide range of providers which can accommodate when other insurers decline to quoteHow does employers' liability insurance work?
Slips, trips and falls
The most common type of accident in the workplace are slips, trips and falls. Although less serious for your staff, the legal costs can still be expensive.
Hazardous workplace
By not creating a safe work environment for your employees means you could be held accountable and be forced to compensate your staff.
Co-worker actions
Your business can be held accountable for the actions of your staff if they injury another employee.
Working at height
With staff working at height or working at depth means an increase in exposure to accidents which serious injuries can occur.
Faulty equipment
A fault with the equipment you provide your staff could mean you are legally responsible for any injuries or potentially death.
Repetitive strain injury
Ergonomics has gown in importance and office staff could find your business responsible for receptive strains.
How much employers' liability insurance?
Prudent businesses and organisations are increasingly purchasing an Excess of Loss policy to provide increased limits for their liability exposures. You can purchase an umbrella policy which will increase the amount of cover for employers' liability.
Personal injury compensation can include compensation for any expenses incurred, loss of earnings, possible loss of future earnings, pain and suffering. The amount of cover you need will depend upon the industry you work.
For example, many companies working within the construction industry will typically purchase between £15 million to £25 million employers' liability cover. Unfortuantely, claims inflation and how long-term care rates are calculated have increased.