In California, you don’t need to be a business owner to have employees. Many homeowners employ the services of domestic workers as nannies, housekeepers, or gardeners, and can be held liable of those workers are injured while performing their job duties. Any job can be dangerous, even if you are working in someone’s home. Domestic workers can suffer slip-and-fall accidents, burns, or other injuries while performing everyday duties, just as any other worker might.
In order to protect workers from the financial burden that comes with serious injuries, there are workers’ compensation laws in place that require employers of domestic workers to provide them with certain protections. When employers offer workers’ compensation insurance, they not only protect their employees, they also protect themselves.
By law, California homeowners must provide insurance coverage for domestic workers who are employed full-time. Workers who only provide occasional services are typically covered under a standard homeowner’s insurance policy, but full-time workers require additional coverage. The definition of a full-time employee may vary depending on your insurance provider’s policy but is also outlined by state standards.
Employees who work within a house, like nannies or housekeepers, may be considered full-time domestic workers by California law if they work more than 20 hours each week. Outside employees, such as pool cleaners or gardeners, qualify as full-time workers if they work more than 10 hours each week. California state laws also require that domestic labors work for a minimum of 52 hours within 90 days prior to suffering an injury before they are able to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. They must also have earned at least $100 during their employment.
In order to add coverage for a domestic worker, homeowners may simply ask to add workers’ compensation to their policy. Renters who employ domestic workers can also obtain coverage for any qualifying employees by adding coverage to a renter’s policy.
Contact Alvandi Law Group, P.C. to schedule a free consultation with our Orange County workers’ compensation lawyers.