General liability
The foundation policy for any business with a premises, customers, contracts or a certificate request: third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury.
General liability- Home
- Business insurance
- Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation insurance
Medical care and wage replacement for employees injured or made ill by their work, required of almost every employer in Minnesota and most other states.
Who needs it
Who this is for
If you have an employee, you almost certainly need it. Minnesota requires it from the first hire, with narrow exceptions.
- Every employer with W-2 employees, full-time or part-time
- Production companies and agencies hiring crew and freelancers
- Businesses whose contracts require a certificate showing workers' compensation
- Owners who want to cover themselves, where the state allows
- Businesses with employees working in more than one state
What it covers
Coverage parts, and what to watch on each
Summaries only. The policy wording governs, and every carrier's form is different.
| Coverage | What it does | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Treatment for a work-related injury or illness, with no deductible to the employee. | Benefits are set by state law, not by the policy. |
| Lost wages | A portion of wages while the employee cannot work. | Waiting periods and percentages vary by state. |
| Disability and rehabilitation | Benefits for permanent impairment and vocational rehabilitation. | Statutory. The carrier manages the claim; the law sets what is owed. |
| Death benefits | Payments to dependents after a fatal injury. | Statutory, as above. |
| Employer's liability (Part Two) | Defense and damages if an employee sues outside the comp system, or a third party seeks contribution. | Carries limits. Contracts often require $1M. Umbrella policies sit above it. |
| Other states | Coverage for employees working temporarily in states listed on the policy. | A few states (Ohio, Washington, Wyoming and North Dakota) require coverage from the state fund instead. |
The hard part
What it does not cover
- Independent contractors who genuinely are independent (misclassification is a common and costly mistake)
- Injuries outside the course of employment
- Owners and officers who have elected out, where allowed
- Employees in states not listed on the policy
- Intentional self-injury, and injuries caused by intoxication, in most states
Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry enforces the requirement, and operating without coverage carries significant penalties. If you are unsure whether someone is an employee, ask before you decide not to cover them.
How to get it
From first call to bound coverage
- 01Payroll and classesTell us what each role does. Class codes drive the premium.
- 02Confirm the statesWhere employees live and work, including temporary travel.
- 03Check employer of recordIf a payroll service is employer of record, the comp may sit with them.
- 04Stay audit-readyPremium is audited against actual payroll at year end. Keep records clean.
Questions
Common questions
Does Minnesota require workers' compensation?
Yes. With narrow exceptions, every employer with employees must carry it or be approved to self-insure, whether the employees are full-time or part-time. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry administers the system.
I only use 1099 contractors. Am I exempt?
Only if they are genuinely independent under state tests. Many freelancers on a set or in an office are employees in the eyes of the law, and the employer bears the cost of getting it wrong.
I use a payroll company for my crew. Do I still need a policy?
If the payroll company is employer of record, it typically carries the comp for those workers. You may still need a policy for anyone it does not cover, including office staff. Ask who is employer of record before you buy.
What is an experience modifier?
A factor applied to your premium based on your past claims compared with similar businesses. Below 1.0 reduces the premium; above 1.0 increases it. Safety programs and prompt claim handling move it.
Can owners be covered?
Often, by election. Owners of LLCs and corporate officers can usually include or exclude themselves depending on the state. Excluding yourself saves premium and removes your benefits; it is a real trade-off.
Related
Often placed alongside
Commercial auto
Liability and physical damage for vehicles your business owns, leases, rents or borrows, including employees driving their own cars on company business.
Commercial autoBusiness owner's policy
General liability, commercial property and business income in one package, built for small and mid-size businesses with a premises and low-hazard operations.
Business owner's policyStart with the quote form, or a call.
The online application takes a few minutes for standard business lines. For production, media and professional liability, call or email and we will tell you what we need.