People working for your business

Employers' Liability Insurance

Discuss employers' liability insurance for UK businesses, including employee roles, payroll, temporary workers and subcontractor arrangements.

Request a quote 0330 133 4386

Start with the exposure

Understand the exposure before comparing terms.

Employers' liability insurance concerns covered claims involving injury or illness arising from employment. Many UK employers are legally required to hold it, although exceptions and territorial rules need checking. Describe how people actually work for the business rather than relying solely on a contract calling someone self-employed.

OAK VIEW

An accurate workforce description is more useful than assuming every worker falls into the same category.

Cover to consider

Built from the risk outwards.

Availability and scope depend on insurer acceptance and the terms offered for your business.

Employee injury or illness claims

Declared work, locations, roles and applicable policy terms determine the insurer's assessment. Insurance does not replace health-and-safety duties.

Temporary workers and subcontractors

Explain who directs the work, supplies equipment and controls the site. Employment status for tax purposes does not alone settle an insurer's definitions.

Workforce changes

Tell Oak about changing payroll, new activities, work abroad and higher-risk tasks before assuming an existing arrangement still fits.

Practical buying guidance

Describe the people doing the work, including temporary help

A business may use employed staff, apprentices, agency workers and subcontracted assistance in the same week. Tell Oak who directs each person's work and which tasks they carry out. Office work, manufacturing, installation and site work should not be grouped under a single description if their exposures differ.

Keep wage estimates and descriptions of higher-risk duties up to date. Explain travel, work away, seasonal changes and operations outside the UK. Do not assume that a worker's own public liability certificate removes the business's responsibilities or satisfies the insurer's employment definition.

Check the certificate, legal requirements applying to the business, insurer wording and notification process. Current official guidance is the starting point for legal obligations; Oak can help explain insurance considerations, not replace employment or legal advice.

Compare the wording, not just the premium

Review employee definitions, declared activities, limits, work-away restrictions and the evidence required for subcontracted work.

A practical risk example

A firm takes on seasonal workers for production and delivery. Their duties, supervision and employment arrangements need to be disclosed. Calling a person self-employed does not alone decide how the insurer treats that working relationship.

This is an illustrative scenario, not confirmation of cover. Insurer underwriting, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions determine the response.

For more detail, read Tanning Salon Insurance: what UK salons should consider and Tanning salon liability: staff, products and customer procedures to discuss.

Common questions

Useful answers before you approach the market.

Does a small business need employers' liability?+

Size alone does not answer the question. Employment arrangements, legal exceptions and the rules applying where the business operates need to be considered. Check current official guidance and discuss the facts with Oak.

Are all subcontractors outside this cover?+

No. Labour-only and bona-fide subcontractor arrangements can receive different treatment under policy definitions. Explain how the work is organised and retain the insurance evidence required by the insurer.

Is employers' liability a substitute for safe systems of work?+

No. Training, supervision, risk assessment and other applicable safety duties remain necessary. Policy conditions and reporting obligations also need to be followed.

Speak directly to Oak

Talk to Oak about employers' liability insurance.

Tell us what you do, what needs protecting and when the policy renews. We'll take it from there.

Start an enquiry 0330 133 4386