Workers' Compensation Insurance in Lakeland, FL

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Workers’ compensation insurance can help cover medical care and wage benefits following eligible work-related injuries or illnesses, while also providing certain protections for employers under Florida workers’ compensation law. In Florida, it is required for many employers, and the rules are stricter in construction. If you are a Lakeland employer comparing workers’ compensation insurance options, here is how coverage works in Florida and when your business may need it.

When Does Florida Law Require Workers' Comp Coverage?

Florida bases the requirement on your industry and how many people you employ, and coverage requirements can also depend on your business structure and any applicable exemptions. The thresholds below reflect the current guidance from the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Because requirements can change and exemptions involve specific eligibility and filing steps, confirm your business’s current legal requirements with the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Construction

coverage is generally required with one or more employees. Corporate officers and LLC members may count toward the coverage requirement unless they qualify for and hold a valid workers’ compensation exemption.

Non-construction

coverage is generally required with four or more employees, whether full-time or part-time.

Agriculture

coverage is generally required with 6 or more regular employees, or 12 or more seasonal workers who work more than 30 days during a season or more than 45 total days in the same calendar year.

These requirements are especially important for construction businesses, where coverage is generally required with one or more employees. You can review the current requirements with the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation, and Headley can help you discuss available workers’ compensation coverage for your business.

What Does a Workers' Compensation Policy Cover?

A workers’ compensation policy can provide benefits for eligible work-related injuries or illnesses and may also include employer liability protection for certain claims, subject to policy terms and Florida law. Coverage generally includes:

Medical care

doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation for an eligible work-related injury or illness.

Lost wages

partial wage replacement while an injured employee is unable to work.

Disability benefits

payments for temporary or permanent disability, depending on the injury and applicable rules.

Death benefits

support for a worker’s family if a job-related accident results in death.

Employer liability

may provide coverage for certain employee injury-related claims that fall outside the workers’ compensation benefits system, subject to policy terms and exclusions.

Depending on the circumstances and policy terms, covered workplace injuries can range from slips and falls to more serious equipment-related accidents.

How Workers' Compensation Premiums Are Calculated

Workers’ compensation premiums are built from a few plain factors rather than a single flat rate. Once you understand the pieces, the number makes a lot more sense.

Class codes

every job type has a classification code based on its risk. An office worker and a roofer sit in very different categories, and that code sets the base rate for each role.

Payroll

premium is figured per $100 of payroll in each class code, so your total payroll is one of the biggest factors in the price.

Experience modification

businesses that meet the applicable experience-rating eligibility requirements may receive an experience modification factor, often called an “experience mod.” The experience mod compares an eligible employer’s actual loss experience with expected losses for similarly classified businesses and can affect the premium applied to the policy.

Because these pieces change from one business to the next, the only way to know your real cost is a quote. As an independent agency, Headley can review workers’ compensation options available from multiple carriers based on your business and underwriting information.

Workers' Compensation FAQs

Do I need workers’ comp for one employee?

In construction, generally yes: Florida requires coverage with one or more employees. In many non-construction businesses, the requirement generally begins at four employees, although a business may choose to obtain coverage before reaching that threshold. Confirm your industry classification and any exemptions with the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation if you are unsure where you land.

Are subcontractors covered?

For contractors, Florida requires verification that subcontractors have the workers’ compensation coverage required for their employees before work begins. If a subcontractor that is required to carry coverage does not have it, responsibility can extend to the contractor. Contractors should obtain appropriate proof of coverage or a valid exemption where applicable.You can review the details with the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation.

What about sole proprietors?

In non-construction businesses, sole proprietors and partners generally are not treated as employees for workers’ compensation purposes unless they elect to be included. Construction businesses follow different rules, and eligible business owners must complete the required exemption process if they intend to claim an exemption. Confirm your individual circumstances with the Division.

What happens if I don’t carry it when it’s required?

The Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation can issue a Stop-Work Order requiring a non-compliant business to cease operations until it meets the coverage requirements, and statutory penalties may also apply. Because enforcement rules and penalties can change, refer to the Division for current information. We do not provide legal advice.

How do I get a certificate of insurance?

Once your policy is active, you can request a certificate of insurance online and provide the certificate-holder and coverage details Headley needs to process the request.

Get Workers' Compensation Coverage Through a Local Lakeland Agent

Florida’s workers’ comp rules trip up plenty of business owners, and reading them with someone who does it daily is a lot easier than parsing the statute yourself. As an independent agency right here in Lakeland, we can explain workers’ compensation coverage options and the general Florida requirements that may apply to your type of business. For questions about whether a specific business is legally required to carry coverage, we will point you to the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Headley Insurance Agency is located at 3544 S Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803. Call us at (863) 701-7411 to talk through your coverage, or request a quote online to get started. We serve businesses in Lakeland, Lake Wales, Winter Haven, Mulberry, Bartow, and Davenport.