In almost every U.S. state, employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have a certain number of employees. If you’re a business owner in Michigan, you must carry workers’ comp insurance if you have at least three or more employees or one employee who works 35 or more hours or week for 14 weeks.
In this article, we’ll go over who you need to cover, who is exempt, and possible penalties for non-compliance.
How does workers’ compensation insurance in Michigan work?
The state of Michigan requires you to carry workers’ compensation insurance as soon as you have three or more employees. Employers can obtain coverage by purchasing a policy via the private market.
Some larger employers can also qualify to become self-insurers. To become a self-insurer, a company must periodically submit proof that it has the financial capability to handle injury claims from any and all of its employees.1
Who needs workers’ compensation insurance in Michigan?
Nearly every employee in Michigan must be covered by workers’ compensation insurance, with some exceptions. Employees who are exempt from mandatory coverage include:
- Agricultural workers who work less than 35 hours per week for 13 weeks
- Domestic workers who work less than 35 hours per week for 13 weeks
- Partners in partnerships
- Corporate officers
- Sole proprietors and independent contractors
- Family members working for relatives
As a business owner or sole proprietor, you don’t have to purchase workers’ compensation insurance for yourself. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get coverage. Sustaining an injury or illness while performing your work can lead to sizable hospital bills, medical costs and a lengthy recovery period. Investing in workers’ comp for yourself could save you from a brutal financial setback.
What are the penalties for not having workers’ comp in Michigan?
Failing to provide workers’ compensation when legally required to do so is a serious offense in the state of Michigan. Employers who are non-compliant can face fines and even jail time. In 2017 alone, 161 employers paid a combined $174,077 in fines related to workers’ compensation coverage.
What does workers’ comp cover?
Medical costs
If one of your employees is injured or becomes ill on the job, workers’ comp can cover their immediate medical expenses such as ambulance rides, emergency room visits, x-rays, surgery and prescription medications.
For example, if a kitchen employee reaches into a sink and slices their hand on a broken glass, they might require medical attention. Workers’ comp could cover the costs of their emergency room visit, stitches and pain management prescriptions.
Lost Wages
Many work-related incidents can leave employees unable to work for several weeks or months. Workers’ comp can provide some relief for employees in the form of partial wage replacement.
If an employee breaks their foot in a work-related accident, they could end up stuck at home for multiple months. While they’re out of work, workers’ comp would cover some of their lost wages.
Ongoing Care
Some work-related injuries require long-term care such as physical therapy or pain management. Often, these injuries are more the result of repetitive workplace stress rather than a single traumatic incident. Chronic back issues for construction workers and carpal tunnel syndrome for office employees are two common examples of the types of workers who might receive ongoing care due to repetitive stress. If their claim is approved, workers’ comp can cover the costs associated with their ongoing care.
Death Benefits
If the unthinkable happens and an employee passes away because of a workplace incident, workers’ comp can cover funeral costs and other death benefits for the deceased worker’s family or beneficiaries.
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