Business Insurance

Workers' Compensation Insurance

If you have employees in California, workers' compensation coverage is legally required — with very few exceptions. It covers medical expenses and lost wages for employees injured on the job, and it protects your business from lawsuits related to those injuries.

What it covers

Medical treatment for work-related injuries and illnesses
A portion of lost wages while an injured employee recovers
Disability benefits for lasting injuries
Employer's liability protection against injury-related lawsuits

Who needs it

In California, nearly every business with even one employee is required to carry workers' compensation, with very few exceptions.

Requirements can also reach beyond W-2 staff depending on how workers are classified — worth confirming rather than assuming.

Common gaps we see

Worker misclassification is the most common and most expensive problem we see. Treating someone as a contractor who the state would classify as an employee can leave you uninsured for their injury and exposed to penalties. We'll help you confirm where your business actually stands.

How SureNest helps

As an independent broker, we compare multiple carriers to match your situation with the right policy — not a one-size-fits-all plan pushed by a single insurer.

FAQ

Common questions

Do I need workers' comp for one part-time employee?

In California, nearly every business with even one employee is required to carry it, with very few exceptions. Part-time status does not generally remove the requirement.

Are contractors covered?

It depends on how the state would classify them, not on what the agreement says. Misclassification is the most common and most expensive problem we see — we will help you confirm where you stand.

What happens if I don't carry it?

California penalties for operating without required coverage are significant, and you also lose the liability protection the policy provides against injury lawsuits.