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Workers’ compensation

Workers’ compensation is state-mandated insurance that pays medical expenses and partial lost wages when an employee is injured or becomes ill because of their job.

Updated 2 min read2 primary sources

In exchange, the employee generally gives up the right to sue you over those injuries. Coverage requirements, benefit levels, and the claims process are set at the state level and vary by jurisdiction and employer size. Many states require employers with any employees to carry coverage. Some exempt very small employers or specific industries, and Texas lets most private employers choose whether to carry it. State disability insuranceState disability insurance (SDI). State disability insurance (SDI) is a state program replacing part of an employee’s wages lost to off-the-job illness or injury, funded by payroll contributions.Click to open the term, where it exists, covers wages lost to sickness or injury away from work.

How does payroll feed the premium?

Premiums are typically calculated from payroll in the steps below. A workers’ compensation class code groups employees by the hazards of what they actually do. Because rates differ so much by class, misclassifying job duties can materially over- or understate the premium. The class code follows the duties actually performed, not the job title. That matters for employees who split their week across more than one type of work.

  1. 01

    The insurer assigns a class code to each employee based on job duties, such as clerical work versus roofing.

  2. 02

    It applies a rate per hundred dollars of payroll within that class code to estimate the premium.

  3. 03

    A payroll audit later reconciles the estimate against actual wages paid.

SOURCES
  1. U.S. Department of Labor, State Workers’ Compensation Officials
  2. Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, Employer resources

General information, not legal or tax advice. Apply current federal and state rules with qualified guidance.

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