Proud To Protect Injured Workers

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Proud To Protect Injured Workers

Are all employers required to have workers’ compensation insurance?

On Behalf of | Apr 7, 2023 | Workers' Compensation |

Minnesotans work hard, but they are as vulnerable to job-related injuries and illnesses as everybody else. Workers’ compensation is meant to help St. Paul residents stay on their feet financially while they are unable to work, but how do you know if your employer carries workers’ comp insurance? Must employers in Minnesota provide workers’ comp benefits for their workforce?

The answer is, generally, yes. The state workers’ comp law requires employers (meaning, any person or entity that hires other people to perform services in exchange for payment) to purchase workers’ compensation insurance or become self-insured for their employees. An employee in this context generally means anybody performing services for another, regardless of age or citizenship status. This applies whether the employer has hundreds of full-time employees or a single part-time worker on staff.

Exceptions to the rule

However, the law contains certain exemptions from the workers’ comp requirement. For example, a sole proprietorship does not have to cover employees if those workers are the owner’s spouse, children or parents. And partners in a partnership do not need to cover themselves or any immediate family members working for the business. Other small businesses may not need coverage for every employee if they employ a small enough workforce.

Fighting for your rightful workplace injury benefits

These exemptions are fairly narrow. If you work for somebody else in St. Paul or anywhere else in the Twin Cities, chances are good that your employer has workers’ comp coverage. But that does not mean your employer will automatically approve your workers’ comp claim when you get injured on the job. You might need legal help to fight for the benefits you deserve.