Employers Liability Insurance

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for most employers. It can protect you and your team and pay compensation, legal fees and costs if an employee, or a previous employee, raises a claim about an illness or a work-related injury.

If an employee puts a claim in, the policy covers injury or damages to a third party caused by one of your employees through their work so is essential for peace of mind when operating a business, large or small.

It is crucial to have adequate protection for your business to defend itself against claims, even if you have Health and Safety and risk management procedures in place. Employers' liability claims can still occur due to slips, trips, and falls, injuries obtained through using workplace machinery, stress-related illnesses or injuries, and respiratory illnesses.

Your business could face serious consequences if an employee claims that their employer is responsible for an accident or incident happening, such as inadequate training provision or a failure to provide adequate protection at work. However, not all instances can be covered by a standard employers' liability policy, such as exposure to asbestos which is often excluded.

What Does Employers Liability Insurance Cover?

• Protection against employee injury claims
• Legal and Defence Costs
• Current or ex-employees claiming occupational illness
• Employees who are full time, part time, temporary or volunteers

How much Employers Liability Insurance does my Business Need?

The minimum level of cover legally required is £5m, but many businesses often require more than this. Most insurers offer at least £10m worth of cover, should it be necessary. Claims for damages can be very costly, particularly where life-threatening or life-limiting injuries occur or even when an employee dies. Defending such claims can also prove expensive, even if it is determined that your business is ultimately not responsible for what has happened.

What Happens If You Don't Have Employers Liability Insurance?

Taking out employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement for most businesses. Without this essential cover, your business could face fines of up to £2,500 per day from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Additionally, you could be fined £1,000 for failing to display a valid employers' liability certificate in a visible location at your business premises.

It's essential to think carefully about any instances where your employees might deem the business responsible for incidents or accidents happening. To ensure the appropriate level of cover, contact our highly knowledgable team who have worked with a wide range of industries and businesses of all sizes. This ensures that you are offered the most appropriate level of insurance cover for your business, nothing more, nothing less.