Reviewing local workers’ compensation requirements

No matter how safe the industry you work in may seem, the threat of suffering an on-the-job accident or developing a work-related injury is ever-present. You are willing to accept this risk due to the assumption that if you are hurt while working, your injury expenses will be covered by workers’ compensation benefits. Our team here at George G. Bishop, Jr. P.A. can understand the shock and disappointment you might feel if and when your employer tells you that they do not carry such coverage. Your boss might claim that your company is not required to. Yet is that really the case?

Fortunately, you can know this for yourself. The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission has posted the state’s workers’ compensation compliance requirements online. Per these guidelines (and state law), any company that regularly employs four or more full- or part-time workers must carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect those employees. For the purpose of this statute, “regularly employs” is meant to be employing roughly the same number of people for a relevant period of time. This could mean that you and your co-workers qualify for coverage even if you are only employed seasonally (provided that working season falls within the designated time period).

There are exceptions to this rule. Employers are not required to provide workers’ compensation benefits for the following types of employees:

• Agricultural workers (including those who sell agricultural products)
• Casual employees (temporary workers)
• State and county fair employees
• Federal employees
• Railroad employees

Companies who have an annual payroll of less than $3,000 are also not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

You can learn more about local workers’ compensation requirements by continuing to explore our site.