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Workplace injuries
Claims involving accidents, manual handling, machinery, slips, falls or other insured incidents connected with work.
Commercial combined insurance
Employers’ Liability Insurance for UK Businesses
Protect the business against covered employee injury or illness claims and meet compulsory insurance requirements where they apply.
At least £5m where compulsory
UK-based broker support
Limited legal exemptions apply
On This Page
Working with insurer markets
Market access and cover availability depend on trade, disclosure, claims history, underwriting appetite and policy terms.
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- CHUBB
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- AXA
Workforce protection
Cover for employee injury and illness claims
Employers’ liability insurance can respond to covered compensation and defence costs when an employee alleges injury or illness arising from their employment. The policy wording determines the actual protection.
Work-related illness
Claims alleging that working conditions or exposure caused an illness or longer-term health condition.
Defence and compensation
Covered legal defence costs and compensation awards, within the policy limit and subject to its terms.
Different worker arrangements
Full-time, part-time, temporary, apprentice and some contractor arrangements may need to be declared.
Work away and remote work
Declared employees working at client sites or remotely may fall within cover where the claim arises from employment.
Commercial package section
Employers’ liability can often sit alongside property, public liability and interruption sections in one package.
The legal position
Most employers need at least £5 million of cover
Most employers in Great Britain must arrange employers’ liability insurance from an authorised insurer as soon as they become an employer. Limited exemptions apply, so the workforce relationship must be checked rather than assumed.
Employees
Written, oral or implied contracts of service can be relevant; job titles alone do not decide the position.
Apprentices and temporary staff
Apprentices, trainees, seasonal and temporary workers may create employers’ liability exposure.
Contractors
Control, tools, substitution and integration into the business can affect how a contractor is treated.
Certificates
Where the law applies, the certificate must be accessible to employees and available to inspectors.
Do not rely on a worker’s label alone.
Provide details of every employee, director, apprentice, volunteer, temporary worker and subcontractor. See the official GOV.UK employers’ liability guidance for the legal requirements and exemptions.
Prepare for a quote
Information that helps insurers understand the workforce
Accurate workforce and activity information helps avoid gaps between the people working for the business and those shown on the policy.
- Employee numbers and annual payroll by role.
- Directors, apprentices and temporary staff.
- Labour-only and bona fide subcontractors.
- Manual work, machinery, height and hazardous activities.
- Work locations, travel and remote arrangements.
- Claims history and health-and-safety controls.
Common questions
Employers’ liability insurance FAQs
Is employers’ liability insurance a legal requirement?
Most employers in Great Britain must arrange it from an authorised insurer as soon as they become an employer, with at least £5 million of cover. Limited exemptions apply.
Are contractors and subcontractors treated as employees?
It depends on the working relationship rather than the label alone. Insurers need accurate details about control, tools, substitution, payment and the work performed.
What can employers’ liability insurance cover?
It can respond to covered compensation and legal costs when an employee alleges injury or illness arising from their employment. The wording, exclusions and excesses determine the actual cover.
Does employers’ liability insurance cover remote workers?
Employees working remotely may fall within the policy where an insured injury or illness arises from their employment, subject to the declared arrangements and policy terms.
Can employers’ liability be included in commercial combined insurance?
It can often be included as a section of a commercial combined package alongside relevant property, public liability or business interruption cover, subject to underwriting.
What happens if compulsory cover is missing?
Businesses can face enforcement and daily fines when required cover is not in place. GOV.UK currently states that the fine can be £2,500 for each day a business is not properly insured.
Compare employers’ liability insurance quotes
Tell us who works for the business, what they do and where they work. We can help present the enquiry to relevant available insurer markets.