Workers Compensation Insurance

Protect Your Employees. Protect Your Business.

Workers compensation insurance can provide benefits for qualifying work-related injuries and illnesses while also helping protect the employer from certain related liability exposures. Briteline can compare available workers compensation markets based on your payroll, operations and employee classifications.

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What Does Workers Compensation Do?

Workers compensation is designed around employee injuries and illnesses arising out of employment, subject to applicable law and policy terms.

Medical Benefits

Can help pay qualifying medical expenses related to covered work-related injuries or occupational illnesses.

Lost Wages

Depending on applicable law and the claim, workers compensation may provide wage-replacement benefits when an injured employee cannot work.

Rehabilitation

Qualifying claims may include certain rehabilitation or return-to-work benefits based on applicable state requirements.

Employers Liability

Workers compensation policies generally include employers liability coverage for certain employee-related claims that fall outside the statutory workers compensation benefit structure.

Payroll Is Only Part of the Price.

Workers compensation premiums are heavily influenced by payroll, but the type of work being performed matters just as much.

Employees are generally assigned classifications based on their actual duties. An office employee, carpenter and delivery driver can have very different workers compensation rates even when their payroll is identical.

Important

Class Codes Need to Match the Work.

Misclassifying employees can cause inaccurate premiums and problems at audit. Tell us what employees actually do rather than choosing a classification simply because it appears less expensive.

Workers Comp Details Worth Reviewing

The carrier and premium matter, but so do the classifications, endorsements and way the policy is structured.

Owner Inclusion / Exclusion

Owners, officers, members or partners may be treated differently depending on entity type, state rules and available elections. Their status should be reviewed when the policy is written.

Waiver of Subrogation

Contracts may require a waiver of subrogation on the workers compensation policy. Availability, wording and premium treatment can vary by carrier.

Experience Modification

Eligible businesses may have an experience modification factor that reflects prior workers compensation loss experience and can materially affect premium.

Multi-State Operations

Businesses operating across state lines should disclose where employees work so applicable state coverage and policy structure can be reviewed.

Subcontractor Exposure

Uninsured subcontractors can create audit and coverage concerns. Certificates and subcontractor relationships should be managed carefully.

Employers Liability Limits

Employers liability limits should be reviewed based on the business, contract requirements and any commercial umbrella or excess liability program.

Workers Compensation Is Usually Auditable.

Workers compensation is commonly written using estimated payroll for the policy period. After the policy ends, the carrier may review actual payroll, classifications and other information to determine the final premium.

Estimated Payroll

The policy typically begins with estimated payroll by classification based on expected operations for the term.

Premium Audit

The carrier may review actual payroll and applicable business information after the policy period.

Final Premium

Higher or lower actual payroll and classification changes can result in additional premium or a return premium, subject to the policy and audit.

Workers Compensation Across Different Industries

Carrier appetite and pricing can vary significantly based on employee duties and the hazards associated with the operation.

Contractors

Construction trades can have materially different rates and underwriting requirements depending on the work employees perform.

Restaurants

Kitchen, service, management and delivery exposures can create multiple classifications within one operation.

Offices

Office-focused businesses generally have different employee injury exposures than higher-hazard field operations.

Healthcare & Wellness

Employee duties, patient interaction and treatment operations can affect classification and carrier eligibility.

Retail

Sales, stock handling, warehousing and delivery activities can create different payroll classifications within a retail business.

Professional Services

Professional firms can still need workers compensation even when their employees primarily perform office or administrative duties.

Why Businesses Work With Briteline

Workers compensation carriers can view the same business very differently. Classification accuracy and market access both matter.

Multiple Markets

Briteline can compare available workers compensation carriers rather than limiting your business to one company's rates and underwriting appetite.

Classification Review

We can review payroll and employee duties so classifications reflect the actual work being performed as accurately as possible.

Contract Support

We can help address applicable certificate and endorsement requests such as waiver-of-subrogation requirements based on the policy and carrier.

Workers Compensation FAQ

Is workers compensation insurance required?

Requirements vary by state, business structure and employee situation. Businesses should review the rules that apply where employees work rather than assuming an exemption applies.

How is workers compensation premium calculated?

Premium is generally influenced by payroll, employee classifications, state-approved rates, loss experience, carrier pricing and other rating factors. Eligible businesses may also have an experience modification factor.

What is a workers comp class code?

Class codes group employees or operations according to the type of work performed and associated injury exposure. Rates can vary substantially between classifications.

Are business owners covered by workers compensation?

It depends on the entity type, state law and any permitted election to include or exclude qualifying owners, officers, partners or members. Owner status should be specifically reviewed when the policy is quoted.

Why does my workers comp policy get audited?

Workers compensation is often priced using estimated payroll. The audit allows the carrier to compare those estimates with actual payroll and classifications during the policy term and calculate the final premium.

What is a waiver of subrogation?

A waiver of subrogation can restrict an insurer's recovery rights against a specified party under applicable policy terms. Businesses are often asked for this endorsement by customers, general contractors or other contractual partners.

Do subcontractors affect my workers compensation policy?

They can. Uninsured subcontractors and certain labor relationships may affect a workers compensation audit or create other coverage issues. Keep current certificates and disclose subcontracted work when the policy is quoted and audited.

Can workers compensation be included under my business package?

Workers compensation is generally issued as a separate policy, although it can be coordinated with your general liability, commercial property, commercial auto and umbrella coverage.

Make Sure Your Payroll and Coverage Match the Business You Run.

Tell Briteline what your employees do, where they work and what payroll you expect. We'll compare available workers compensation markets and help structure coverage around your actual operations.