Florida Workers Compensation Insurance for Food & Beverage Businesses
Many employers in Florida’s food and beverage industry must carry workers compensation insurance in case one of their employees is injured on the job.
Learn how Food Liability Insurance Program (FLIP)’s policy helps you meet legal requirements, protect your personal finances, and do right by your employees!
What Is Workers Compensation Insurance in Florida?
Workers compensation insurance is designed to cover the costs associated with work-related injuries or illnesses your employees experience while working for your business. This includes:
- Medical payments
- Temporary or permanent disability benefits
- Death benefits/funerary costs
- Legal expenses if your employee sues you over a work injury or illness
- Lost wages as a result of the injury or illness
Florida’s Division of Workers Compensation (DWC) is the government agency that oversees workers’ compensation claims and helps employers and employees comply with state laws.
Who Is Required to Have Workers Compensation Insurance in Florida?
Florida food and beverage businesses with four or more employees are required to carry workers compensation insurance.
The following types of workers are classified as employees in Florida:
- Full-time workers
- Part-time workers
- Temporary workers
- Business owners who are limited liability company (LLC) members
- Corporate officers
Sole proprietors or partners are not considered employees by Florida’s workers compensation laws, but they can still be included on a policy if they file a form DWC-251. By filling out this form, you designate yourself as an employee under Florida law, which grants you access to workers compensation benefits.
Are Independent Contractors Covered Under My Florida Workers Compensation Insurance Policy?
Food and beverage business owners are not required to provide workers compensation insurance for independent contractors. Instead, the contractors are responsible for securing their own workers compensation coverage.
If a worker meets at least four of the following criteria, they are classified as independent contractors in Florida:
- They have a separate business with their own equipment
- You pay money to another company for their services (not an individual)
- They have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
- They can work for other companies without quitting the job they’re performing for you or following any formal process
- They submit bids based on a contract (but not one in which they’re described as your employee)
- They have a business account that they use to pay for work-related expenses
Which Food and Beverage Businesses Need Workers Compensation Insurance in Florida?
You need Florida workers compensation insurance if you own one of the following types of food and beverage businesses.
Each of the above businesses is eligible to receive an online quote for workers compensation insurance from FLIP. If you don’t see your business listed here, please contact us, and one of our licensed, non-commissioned agents will be happy to assist you. They can also provide more information about who qualifies and how you can get coverage.
How Does Workers Compensation Work in Florida?
In Florida, business owners must purchase workers compensation insurance from a private company like FLIP. There is also the Florida Workers Compensation Joint Underwriting Association (FWCJUA), or the state’s workers compensation fund. It exists as a last resort for business owners who can’t get covered through a private insurer.
Workers compensation policies are made up of two parts that work together to provide financial protection to you and your employees in the event of a workplace injury or illness:
- Part One: Workers Compensation
- Part Two: Employers Liability
Part One: Workers Compensation
Part One of your policy is designed to provide financial coverage to your employee for costs associated with their work-related injury as required by the state of Florida. Unlike other insurance policies, it doesn’t have standard coverage limits.
Part Two: Employers Liability
This part of your policy provides you with financial coverage if an employee sues you over a work-related injury or illness.
While Part One helps decrease the need for workers to sue employers, there are still instances where a worker may decide to. For instance, if Florida’s workers compensation benefits won’t cover one of their work-related injury expenses, they may take you to court to recoup that money.
Unlike Part One, Part Two does have standard coverage limits. FLIP’s employers liability limits are:
- $1,000,000 aggregate (per policy)
- $1,000,000 occurrence (per claim)
- $1,000,000 per employee
For example, if an employee sues you over a work-related injury, your policy could cover up to $1,000,000 for a single claim (per occurrence and per employee). If you face multiple lawsuits within one policy year, it could cover up to $1,000,000 for all claims (aggregate limit).
What Business Information Is Needed for a Florida Workers Compensation Quote?
You’ll need the following information about your business to get your free workers compensation insurance quote from FLIP:
- The type of business you run (catering, food truck, etc.)
- Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
- Your phone number
- Your business address
- Your employee payroll
- Your owner/office payroll (if you want to be included in the coverage)
Note: Please make sure to select the type of business that most accurately describes yours while filling out your application. If you choose the wrong business class, it could delay the quote process and mean a longer wait time before you get insured.
How Long Does It Take to Get Insured in Florida?
It takes most businesses 10 minutes to get an online workers compensation quote from FLIP.
If your business isn’t eligible for a fully online quote, we will notify you during the application process. Once you’ve submitted your application, one of our underwriters will begin preparing your quote with the information you provided.
How Much Does Workers Compensation Cost in Florida?
The cost of Florida workers compensation insurance can vary greatly depending on these factors:
- Your business’ risk factors
- Your payroll
Florida calculates workers compensation premiums per $100 of payroll using this formula:
Workers Classification Code Rate x Experience Modification Number x (Payroll/$100) = Your Premium
FLIP audits your premium at the end of your first policy year to make sure it is accurate. This ensures you aren’t paying too much or too little for your policy. After the audit, you may receive a refund or a request for additional premium.
What Are Some Common Workers Compensation Claims in Florida?
Some of the most common workers compensation claims in Florida include:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Example: Your employee severs their finger while using a mandoline to slice vegetables
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Example: An employee develops a shoulder injury from repeatedly stirring cookie dough
- Burns and scalds
- Example: One of your employees suffers third-degree burns after getting splashed with hot oil from a deep fryer
- Exposure to hazardous materials
- Example: One of your employees develops a chronic rash on their arms after using a cleaner you told them to use
- Slip-and-fall injuries
- Example: An employee trips over the cord leading from your generator to your food truck and breaks their wrist
What Does Workers Compensation Insurance Cover in Florida?
In Florida, workers compensation insurance covers the cost of these state-required benefits:
- Medical benefits: Includes the cost of hospitalization, doctor’s visits, medical tests, physical therapy, prostheses, prescription drugs, and attendant care
- Lost wages/compensation: Includes Temporary Total Disability (TTD), Temporary Partial Disability (TPD), Impairment Income Benefits (IIB), and Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
- Death benefits: If the injured/ill employee dies, this includes up to $7,500 for funeral expenses and financial compensation to surviving dependents and/or spouse
What Workers Compensation Doesn’t Cover
While workers compensation provides a wide range of benefits to injured employees, it won’t cover incidents like:
- Intentional injuries the employee causes to themselves (sometimes in an attempt to abuse the workers compensation system)
- Injuries occurring while the employee is intoxicated or under the influence of illegal substances
- Injuries occurring after the employee violates an established company policy
Why Choose FLIP for Workers Compensation Insurance in Florida?
FLIP offers comprehensive workers compensation coverage catered to Florida food and beverage businesses.
Take a look at what you’ll enjoy with a FLIP policy.
Easy Online Application
Most businesses can get a free online quote from FLIP in only 10 minutes — because getting the coverage you need shouldn’t be a pain.
Flexible Payment Options
With FLIP, you get to choose how you pay. We offer annual, quarterly, semiannual, and monthly* payment plans for your convenience.
Customizable Coverage
Workers compensation isn’t the only insurance you need! Bundle your policy with general liability, product liability, and optional add-ons like cyber liability.
State-Approved Insurance
Adhere to Florida’s workers compensation laws with a policy that ticks all the boxes.
*Monthly payments are only available for policies exceeding $1,000 per year.
What Our Customers Are Saying
Find out what other food and beverage business owners have to say about their experience with FLIP from 300+ available reviews!
If you are required to have workers compensation coverage in Florida and don’t, you could face serious consequences. The DWC has investigators who routinely inspect job sites to ensure businesses follow the law.
In most cases, you would be issued a Stop-Work Order, forcing you to shut down all operations until you obtain workers compensation insurance and pay a fine. This fine is equal to twice the amount you would’ve paid in premiums within the previous one or two years.
Filing a Florida workers compensation claim involves several steps:
- Your employee must report the illness or injury to you within 30 days of the date/discovery of the injury. Ensure your employees know this rule and encourage them to report any work-related injuries to you immediately.
- As soon as your employee notifies you, report the injury to your insurance company (must be within seven days of notification).
- Within three days, your insurance company will send you an informational brochure on your rights and responsibilities under Florida’s workers compensation laws.
- Your insurance company will investigate the claim and determine your employee’s eligibility to receive benefits
