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California boasts one of the largest economies in the United States. It’s supported by 4.24 million small businesses, which accounts for 99.8% of all businesses in the state. Those small businesses also employ 7.4 million Californians. To protect those workers, California has enacted strong workers’ compensation laws that also provide help and support for business owners.
Interested in complying with workers’ compensation laws but want to limit the expense? There’s good news. While workers’ compensation is a requirement for all California businesses with at least one employee, you’ll discover a range of ways you can reduce your costs. Some of the most important steps include the following:
California workers’ compensation insurance works similarly to all other states. The process usually goes like this:
1. You purchase insurance based on your estimated annual payroll.
2. You pay your premium and obtain coverage.
3. Your business and employees are protected for a year.
4. You complete a year-end audit to ensure the payroll estimate was accurate.
5. You’ll receive a reimbursement check if the estimate was high. If it was low, you’ll get a bill.
Medical care cost reimbursement
Supplemental job displacement benefits
Death benefits to survivors
Workers' comp coverage also protects employers from legal action. This means that if an employee sues your business because of a workplace injury, the insurance will cover the legal costs of the case.
Obtaining workers’ compensation insurance in California is relatively simple. In fact, business owners have three routes open to them.
1. You can buy it from an independent insurance agency , like Kickstand Insurance. With our easy online application process, you can get a quote in seconds.
2. You can buy it from California’s state fund.
3. You may be eligible to self-fund if you have a large business and have been in operation for a minimum of three years. You’ll need to verify that your business qualifies with the Office of Self-Insurance Plans.
All businesses with at least one employee are required by California law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Failing to do so is a crime. The outcomes include the following:
California stipulates specific death benefits for survivors in the case of an employee’s death. These include:
Workers’ comp cases can be settled in two ways in California. The first type is called “stipulated findings and award.” In this case, the worker and the insurance company agree on all counts and then the employee receives biweekly payments unless the employee requires money upfront. There is the opportunity to reopen the case within five years if the employee requires additional compensation due to the injury/medical condition.
The second type is called a “compromise and release.” In this situation, the employee receives a lump sum payment, and the case is closed. No further costs are covered even if they relate directly to the injury/accident.
Note that all settlements must be approved by a California judge, usually via an informal hearing.
California gives employees one year from the date of the injury/accident to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, if the employee is under 18 at the time of the accident, the one-year clock begins when they turn 18.
Another caveat is if there is a repetitive stress injury. In this case, the employee has one year from the time they noticed the condition.
If the original injury caused additional or further injury, the employee has up to five years from the date of the original injury to file a claim.
Start by filling out a short online form about your business. We’ll use that info to get you an estimated quote. Then, one of our experienced agents will contact you to review the quote and make sure you are getting the absolutely lowest rate possible for your business. Once the quote is finalized, you’re ready to buy the policy - often with coverage starting that day!
Unlike other online insta-quote systems,
here your quote is reviewed by experts
A Step-by-Step Handbook for Small Businesses - you don't want to skip this!
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The information on this website is not intended to serve as insurance advice. All content provided is for general informational purposes only.
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