There are lots of things to take into account when running a business. Any business owner will have a busy list of tasks to get through each day, from planning new marketing campaigns to looking after company finances. One area that is especially important to keep an eye on is business insurance.
Most entrepreneurs will know about the standard type of corporate insurance, such as general or professional liability. Insurance like this helps to cover organizations against clients’ claims for professional mistakes, bad advice, or damage to people or property caused by employees. But this is not the only type of insurance any business should have. Getting a workers compensation insurance quote is also essential.
This type of insurance cover acts as a financial safety net for companies that employ staff. It provides cover for a business in the event of an injury in the workplace to an employee. But why do businesses need it – even if the staff are office-based?
Protection for Your Business
In a business sense, this type of insurance is useful because it provides effective cover against sizeable financial loss in the event of a workplace injury to employees. Workers’ compensation insurance will look after any ensuing medical bills and cover a staff member’s wages while they are off work recovering. This is just as applicable for office staff as it is people in manual jobs – injuries can happen anywhere, at any time!
It can also help cover a larger permanent injury compensation payout if the staff member affected cannot return to their role due to the injury suffered at work. If you do not have this sort of insurance in place, your business would have to cover all these costs and be open to a compensation claim.
Protection for Staff As Well
Business owners also have an ethical responsibility to care for their employees. Workers compensation insurance is, therefore, a must for any business. The duty applies equally to someone who works in an office or an individual working at a construction site. Both have a chance of being hurt while at work. Whether it is carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive typing or a heavy beam landing on a manual laborer’s foot, injuries and accidents do happen.
This insurance gives workers the same kind of safety net as it provides employers. Staff can rest easy and recover from an accident, knowing that their wages and medical bills will be paid. That is much better than having the stress and financial burden of covering them personally. As a result, staff will be able to focus on their recovery and return faster, and with more respect for your company for looking after them.
Most U.S. States Make it a Legal Requirement
Another reason why workers’ compensation insurance is a must for businesses is that most states in the USA make it a legal necessity. Insurance of this nature must be purchased in most states when you hire your first member of staff. Staying within the law of the land is crucial for organizations – so making sure you have this type of cover, if needed, is a must.
There can be large penalties for non-compliance, which is not a cost you will want to absorb. In extreme cases, a business owner can even be charged and sent to jail for not taking this cover out when needed.
Helps to Build Trust with Staff
Psychology is a vital part of managing people – from the four main personality types to knowing when someone needs a quiet chat. One of the critical things between an employer and any people they employ is trust. Without this, you will fail to get the most from your workers and never realize the productivity you should.
By taking out cover for workplace injuries, you are helping to build this trust. Staff will see that you care for them and will look after them when necessary. That, in turn, will make them more motivated to perform for you and do their best. Of course, many people looking for a job will only work for a company which offers cover like this. If you do not have it, you could see the best talent going to competitors.
Workers’ Compensation Cover is Vital for All Businesses
The above points show that this sort of insurance is a must for all businesses – even those whose staff are office-based. The benefits that this protection offers are just as applicable to desk-based work as it is manual work. When it comes to the legal requirements, this covers office work as well as other sectors. If you have not yet got this cover, you should consider doing so now.
