![\"Employers'](\"https:\/\/www.policybee.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/builder-about-to-walk-into-a-big-hole-graphic-shutterstock.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFind out everything you need to know about your legal duty to protect your staff. Here’s your at-a-glance employers’ liability insurance guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is employers’ liability insurance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEmployers’ liability insurance <\/a>(EL) protects you against claims made by your employees for injuries and illnesses they suffer at work. It pays any compensation you\u2019re liable for and your legal defence costs, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt’s especially important because it\u2019s the only business insurance required by law. <\/strong>It’s also our third most-requested type of cover after professional indemnity insurance<\/a> and public liability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who needs employers’ liability insurance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s safe to say most UK businesses probably need EL. That’s because the policy wording uses such a broad definition of what constitutes an \u2018employee\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make sure as many people as possible are covered, \u2018employee\u2019 is taken to have a much wider meaning than just a permanent member of staff employed under contract. They don\u2019t even have to be paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part-timers, volunteers, work experience kids, secondees, temps, helpers, apprentices, staff borrowed by you and labour-only subcontractors under your supervision are all classed as ’employees’. So don\u2019t fall into the easy trap of thinking that because they\u2019re not really \u2018your\u2019 staff, they\u2019re also not your responsibility. They are \u2013 and so is their welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, apart from publicly funded organisations, the only businesses that don\u2019t need employers\u2019 liability insurance are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Companies where the owner is the sole<\/strong> employee, owning 50% or more of the issued share capital.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Family businesses not<\/strong> incorporated as limited companies where all employees are closely related to the business owner (for example father, son, brother, sister, husband, wife etc).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How much employers’ liability cover do I need?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy law, \u00a35m is the minimum amount required for most businesses. However, you\u2019ll find most insurers offer \u00a310m as standard, which at least makes choosing your level of cover straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That figure reflects just how costly claims for staff injury and illness can be. Even a claim for back problems sustained by sitting for long periods in an unergonomic office chair can run to the \u00a3thousands. And serious accidents and injuries inevitably demand much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens if I don’t have it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Health and Safety Executive<\/a> (HSE) enforces the law on employers\u2019 liability. If a health and safety officer comes knocking, you could be fined \u00a32,500 for every day<\/strong> you should\u2019ve had cover but didn’t. And \u00a31,000 for not displaying your insurance certificate. Gulp.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn fairness, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll be given a few days\u2019 grace to sort out a policy rather than fined there and then. But it\u2019s best not to chance it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EPLI & D&O insurance for complete peace of mind<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile EL insurance is your legal safety net for workplace injuries and illnesses, today’s business risks often extend beyond the factory floor or office ergonomics. That\u2019s where employment practices liability insurance<\/a> (EPLI) and directors’ & officers’ insurance<\/a> (D&O) come into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEPLI protects your business from costly, time-consuming employment-related claims. It shines where EL leaves off, providing cover for areas like unfair dismissal<\/a>, discrimination, breach of contract, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd what about protecting those who call the shots? Business owners and those in decision-making positions can be held personally liable for any wrongdoing. Which could mean their personal finances are at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
D&O insurance defends your directors, executives, and managers if someone holds them personally responsible for issues like breach of care or health and safety violations. Combined with EPLI, it forms a protective \u2018suite\u2019 that covers employment-related claims against your leadership team and the wider business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anything else I need to know?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen you get your policy documents from your insurer or broker, stick your employers’ liability certificate in an obvious spot on a suitable wall \u2013 somewhere everyone can see it. That’s because you’re legally obliged to have it in a place others can easily read it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if you don’t have a wall, you can store your certificate electronically. Just make sure your guys know how to access it if they want to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not sure if any of this applies to you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you want EL advice straight from the horse’s mouth, the HSE have put together a handy employers’ liability insurance guide<\/a>. It\u2019s everything you need to know about employers’ liability in one document.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf that doesn\u2019t cover it, there’s more info on our employers’ liability page<\/a>, or feel free to give us a call on 0345 222 5391<\/strong>. We\u2019re happy to talk you through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nImage used under license from Shutterstock.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Find out everything you need to know about your legal duty to protect your staff. Here’s your at-a-glance employers’ liability insurance guide. What is employers’ liability insurance? Employers’ liability insurance (EL) protects you against claims made by your employees for … Continue reading
It’s especially important because it\u2019s the only business insurance required by law. <\/strong>It’s also our third most-requested type of cover after professional indemnity insurance<\/a> and public liability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s safe to say most UK businesses probably need EL. That’s because the policy wording uses such a broad definition of what constitutes an \u2018employee\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To make sure as many people as possible are covered, \u2018employee\u2019 is taken to have a much wider meaning than just a permanent member of staff employed under contract. They don\u2019t even have to be paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part-timers, volunteers, work experience kids, secondees, temps, helpers, apprentices, staff borrowed by you and labour-only subcontractors under your supervision are all classed as ’employees’. So don\u2019t fall into the easy trap of thinking that because they\u2019re not really \u2018your\u2019 staff, they\u2019re also not your responsibility. They are \u2013 and so is their welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, apart from publicly funded organisations, the only businesses that don\u2019t need employers\u2019 liability insurance are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n By law, \u00a35m is the minimum amount required for most businesses. However, you\u2019ll find most insurers offer \u00a310m as standard, which at least makes choosing your level of cover straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That figure reflects just how costly claims for staff injury and illness can be. Even a claim for back problems sustained by sitting for long periods in an unergonomic office chair can run to the \u00a3thousands. And serious accidents and injuries inevitably demand much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Health and Safety Executive<\/a> (HSE) enforces the law on employers\u2019 liability. If a health and safety officer comes knocking, you could be fined \u00a32,500 for every day<\/strong> you should\u2019ve had cover but didn’t. And \u00a31,000 for not displaying your insurance certificate. Gulp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fairness, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll be given a few days\u2019 grace to sort out a policy rather than fined there and then. But it\u2019s best not to chance it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n While EL insurance is your legal safety net for workplace injuries and illnesses, today’s business risks often extend beyond the factory floor or office ergonomics. That\u2019s where employment practices liability insurance<\/a> (EPLI) and directors’ & officers’ insurance<\/a> (D&O) come into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EPLI protects your business from costly, time-consuming employment-related claims. It shines where EL leaves off, providing cover for areas like unfair dismissal<\/a>, discrimination, breach of contract, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what about protecting those who call the shots? Business owners and those in decision-making positions can be held personally liable for any wrongdoing. Which could mean their personal finances are at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n D&O insurance defends your directors, executives, and managers if someone holds them personally responsible for issues like breach of care or health and safety violations. Combined with EPLI, it forms a protective \u2018suite\u2019 that covers employment-related claims against your leadership team and the wider business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you get your policy documents from your insurer or broker, stick your employers’ liability certificate in an obvious spot on a suitable wall \u2013 somewhere everyone can see it. That’s because you’re legally obliged to have it in a place others can easily read it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you don’t have a wall, you can store your certificate electronically. Just make sure your guys know how to access it if they want to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want EL advice straight from the horse’s mouth, the HSE have put together a handy employers’ liability insurance guide<\/a>. It\u2019s everything you need to know about employers’ liability in one document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If that doesn\u2019t cover it, there’s more info on our employers’ liability page<\/a>, or feel free to give us a call on 0345 222 5391<\/strong>. We\u2019re happy to talk you through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image used under license from Shutterstock.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Find out everything you need to know about your legal duty to protect your staff. Here’s your at-a-glance employers’ liability insurance guide. What is employers’ liability insurance? Employers’ liability insurance (EL) protects you against claims made by your employees for … Continue reading Who needs employers’ liability insurance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much employers’ liability cover do I need?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What happens if I don’t have it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
EPLI & D&O insurance for complete peace of mind<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Anything else I need to know?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not sure if any of this applies to you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n