Employers Liability Insurance

Exempt businesses

Some businesses are not required to have employers’ liability insurance, including:

• companies with no employees
• family businesses that employ only family members

What is Employers Liability Insurance?

Your policy should cover claims brought by:

• all permanent employees
• contract, casual and seasonal employees
• labour-only subcontractors

An employee is someone:

• who has National Insurance contributions and income tax deducted from their salary
• whose location, hours and conditions of their work are controlled by their employer
• who cannot be replaced by their employer if they are unable to work

Your policy should also cover claims brought by:

• temporary staff, including students and people on work placements
• volunteers, advisers, referees and marshals

Check with your insurer to make sure your employers’ liability policy covers everyone who works with your business.

Employee claims for injury or illness

If you are an employee and you have suffered an injury at work or become ill as a result of your job, you should speak to your employer who will contact their insurer about making a claim.

If the company you worked for has gone out of business you may still be able to make a claim for compensation directly through the company’s insurer. You can trace your former employer’s insurance provider through the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office (ELTO).