How do I know if my employer is required to carry workers' compensation insurance?

In Washington, employers are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance if they employ either a certain number of employees or an employee who earns a certain amount of money. According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have at least one employee or if they have a worker who earns more than $1,000 in wages in a quarter (a three-month period). If an employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance but does not, that employer can be subject to fines, criminal prosecution, and suspension of their business license. To find out if an employer should be carrying workers’ compensation insurance, the employee or someone else can contact the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries directly and ask if a specific employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The easiest way to know if an employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance is by asking the employer directly. If the employer has a workers’ compensation insurance policy on file, they should be able to provide it. If the employer is unable or unwilling to provide a workers’ compensation policy, then the employee should contact the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

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How do I know if my employer is required to carry workers' compensation insurance?

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