California law requires companies to provide workers’ compensation benefits to W2 employees. Independent contractors, on the other hand, are generally not covered under workers’ compensation. That said, the reality is that many employees are improperly classified as independent contractors. Show
To find out whether you are an independent contractor or employee you should understand:
This article will explain: Independent contractors do not get workers’ comp benefits. 1. Are independent contractors entitled to workers’ compensation benefits?No. Independent contractors do not receive workers’ compensation benefits. The workers’ compensation system only applies to employees.1 The difference is important if you are injured doing work for an employer. The insurance company may deny your claim because you are not an employee. If you are an independent contractor, many of the laws do not apply. Whereas if you are classified as an employee, your employer has to:
Independent contractor status may be used as a “subterfuge” to avoid employee status, meaning that an employer may falsely claim that you are an independent contractor in order to avoid paying you workers’ compensation benefits. The idea that an employer may try to classify a worker as an independent contractor as opposed to an employee is common enough to be mentioned in the California Labor Code.2 If a court determines that you were really an employee, and misclassified as an independent contractor, you may be entitled not only to workers comp benefits but also to file a wage and hour lawsuit in California for unpaid wages, overtime and failure to give meal and rest breaks. 1.1 Difference between employee and independent contractorA California employee is any person in the service of an employer, whether with an oral or written contract, whether lawful or unlawful.3 A California independent contractor is a person who works for a specific fee and result. The employer only controls the result of the work but not how the work is accomplished.4 There are times when the risk of injury should be placed on the person doing the work, and other times the risk should be on the person hiring.5 When a worker does not have control over the work that they are doing, they do not have control over the safety of the work. In this case, they are an employee. Independent contractors:
If you have not actually chosen these items, then there is a question of whether you are actually an independent contractor. For a more detailed discussion, see our article on W2 vs 1099 in California. 2. How do you determine if you are an independent contractor or employee?The determination as to whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor is one of fact.7 The Labor Code view favors the idea that you are an employee.8
Just because someone is called an independent contractor in their business relationship does not mean that they are one.11 The test for independent contractor status is one of how much control the employer has over the employee and how they get their work done.12 There are many additional factors that can be considered to make this determination:
Rider-share drivers are typically independent contractors. There is no specific way to apply all these factors. The weight of the different factors depends on the situation.15 It is not simply counting how many factors are on one side or the other.
3. What to do if the insurer denies your claim?When you file a claim for California workers’ compensation benefits, the insurance company may deny your claim based on the defense that you are an independent contractor. Filing an Application for Adjudication of Claim and Declaration of Readiness To Proceed will put your case before a judge to decide if the insurance company is correct. Remember that it is the insurance company’s responsibility to show that you are not an employee. The default is that you are an employee. If the insurance company does not prove that you are an independent contractor, then you qualify for benefits including medical treatment, mileage reimbursement, temporary disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, death benefits in the case of fatalities at work, and supplemental job displacement benefits. You may appeal any denial of benefits in a California workers compensation case. 4. How do I obtain benefits if my employer says I am an independent contractor?It is important to understand how to file a workers’ compensation claim for occupational illnesses in California. If the insurance company denies your claim by stating that you are an independent contractor, it is up to you to take action to show that you are an employee and entitled to California workers’ compensation benefits. Call our law firm for legal advice. We offer free consultations. For help with filing a workers compensation claim in California or completing workers comp forms, contact us. Our firm helps police officers, firefighters and other workers to get compensation for their job-related injuries. (For cases in Nevada, please see our article on independent contracts and workers’ compensation benefits in Nevada.) LEGAL REFERENCES:Who is required to have workers comp in Florida?Employers conducting work in the State of Florida are required to provide workers' compensation insurance for their employees. Specific employer coverage requirements are based on the type of industry, number of employees and entity organization.
Do 1099 employees need workers comp in Maryland?Most employers in Maryland are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. However, an employer-employee relationship must exist for an individual to be covered by workers' compensation insurance. Employees vs. Independent Contractors Workers' comp does not cover independent contractors.
Do 1099 employees need workers comp in Illinois?Illinois law requires employers to provide workers' compensation insurance for almost everyone who is hired, injured, or whose employment is localized in Illinois. Sole proprietors, business partners, corporate officers, and members of limited liability companies may exempt themselves.
Do 1099 employees need workers comp in Florida?Most 1099 contractors in Florida are not required to get worker's compensation policies. However, 1099 employees are required to get worker's compensation policies if they work in the construction industry or a construction-related field.
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