What is the minimum level of cover required?

£5,000,000 is the minimum legal requirement, although most policies will cover you for £10,000,000.

Who must have employers’ liability insurance?

The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 requires all employers to have employers’ liability cover. There are some exemptions, such as publicly funded organisations, nationalised industries, and certain family/individually owned businesses. Our experts will be able to advise you on the cover you require.

Who does the insurance cover?

Employers’ liability insurance covers everyone who is defined as an “employee” under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. This definition is wider than you would normally define “employee” as it will include work experience/interns and volunteers.

Can you give examples of what would be covered by this policy?

The following examples are scenarios that would be covered: Scenario one: Employee who operates machinery injures themselves because incorrect protective clothing was issued. Scenario two: Employee whose job involves heavy lifting hurts themselves because they have not received manual handling training. Scenario three: Employee trips over some carpet that had come loose and breaks their arm. The employer knew about the carpet but it was not repaired.

Do I need employers' liability if I only have temporary staff?

Yes, no matter how long you employ staff for you must have employers’ liability insurance.

Do I need employers' liability for subcontractors?

This varies according to the terms of their contract. If they are “labour-only” employees then you need employers’ liability insurance because they are working under your instruction, using your tools and materials. If they are “bona fide” and work under their own direction, using their own tools and materials, you should not need employers’ liability insurance.

Employers' Liability Insurance | Alan Boswell Group

Name: Employers' Liability Insurance
Brand: Alan Boswell Group
Rating: 4.8 (11503 reviews)

Employers' Liability Insurance

Protecting businesses against financial losses and legal liabilities arising from workplace injuries or illnesses suffered by employees during the course of their employment.

Cover for employees

Cover for volunteers and work experience/interns

Cover for family members

Employers’ liability insurance is one of a few compulsory insurances. Companies that employ one or more members of staff, whether paid or volunteers, require this cover.

Employers’ liability policies cover claims made against your company in the event of accident, injury, or illness sustained by your staff at work or as a result of work.

The Alan Boswell Group Difference

Alan Boswell Group is one of the UK’s top independent insurance brokers and can offer your company impartial advice about the types of insurance your business needs and the appropriate levels of cover you should consider. Employers’ liability is a fundamental part of protecting your business and we will work with you to ensure this and all other relevant business risks are covered while providing a competitive service.

How our customers rate us

Good insurance ensured. They have looked after all my business insurances at a better cost than others. The personal service is what is needed these days.

Mr Bush - Commercial Combined Insurance

4.8/5 11503 reviews

Employers’ liability in detail

Your certificate of employers’ liability insurance

After purchasing an employers’ liability policy, your Certificate of Employers’ Liability Insurance must be displayed in a prominent position within each of your business premises. Alternatively, the certificate can be made available to employees in an electronic format. Please note that failure to display or produce the current certificate to either the Health & Safety Executive or Local Authority may result in your prosecution and a fine being imposed. There is no longer a legal requirement to retain old certificates, however we do recommend that you maintain a record of your employers’ liability history for reference purposes.

Following purchase of your employers’ liability policy you will be required to provide your ERN (Employer Reference Number) to your insurance provider to log your insurance details with the Employers Liability Trading Office database in order to make it easier for an employee to make a claim, if required in the future.

If you are employing people and don’t take out employers’ liability insurance you could face a considerable fine for every day that you don’t have cover in place.