Workers Comp Insurance
Workers compensation insurance coverage is designed to protect your finances and your staff by paying for employees’ work-related injuries.
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Workers compensation coverage is more than just a nice-to-have when every day involves unpredictable animals. For many pet businesses with employees, it’s the law — and for good reason.
Whether it’s being bowled over by a Great Dane or nicked with sharp shears, a lot can go wrong in pet care. If you need workers comp insurance to meet state requirements and protect your employees, you’re in the right place.
What Is Workers Compensation Insurance?
Workers compensation insurance (aka workers comp insurance) for pet businesses provides medical and disability benefits to employees for injuries or illnesses caused by a work-related incident.
A workers compensation insurance policy is no-fault coverage, so your employees don’t have to prove you were negligent or that the injury wasn’t their fault. The goal of the policy is to cover costs related to work injuries, ensuring that:
- Employees can feel confident that they have help if something goes wrong
- You have a financial safety net to support your employees without paying out of pocket
- You fulfill your legal obligations, so your pet business can run smoothly
Is Workers Comp Coverage Required By Law?
Every U.S. state except Texas legally requires businesses with employees to carry workers comp insurance. Not getting coverage can result in fines, cease and desist orders, expensive legal settlements, or even criminal charges in a few states. This isn’t the place to cut costs.
What Does Workers Comp Insurance Cover?
A workers compensation insurance policy for a pet business covers costs around work-related illnesses and injuries, like:
What It Doesn’t Cover
A pet care workers compensation insurance policy will not cover:
- Injuries intentionally caused
- Court-ordered payments because an employee working for you illegally was injured (aka punitive and exemplary damages)
- Damages due to employment practices like coercion, criticism, demotion, evaluation, reassignment, discipline, defamation, harassment, humiliation, discrimination against or termination of any employee, or any personnel practices, policies, acts, or omissions
- Bodily injury that happened outside the U.S., except for injury to a citizen employee who is temporarily out of the country
- Payment you owe because of occupational disease, unemployment compensation, and disability benefits law or similar laws
- Fines for violating federal or state law
Check your policy for details about your coverages, limitations, and exclusions.
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Who Needs Workers Compensation Coverage?
Most pet businesses with at least one employee should carry workers compensation insurance coverage, including part-time and seasonal employees. Since laws vary depending on where you operate, always check your state requirements to make sure your business is compliant.
Your state could also have regulations for self-employed workers, volunteers, interns, and independent contractors. Breaking these laws can leave you with hefty fines and legal trouble.
If you have a PCI general liability policy and you need workers comp for your pet care business, you can add it to any of these coverage types:
Examples of Pet Care Workers Comp Claims
Average payout: $89,000
How Much Is Workers Compensation Insurance?
The median cost of workers comp insurance for a pet business is about $1,255 per year, but your price could be higher or lower depending on these factors:
- The type of pet business you run (aka your class code)
- Your payroll and how many employees work for you
- The risks involved in each employee’s job duties
- How long you’ve been in business
- Whether you’ve filed claims before
Other Coverage You May Need
Pet businesses have to be ready for injuries on the job, but they aren’t the only risk. Our workers comp policy requires you to have a general liability policy, which comes with Pet Protection (Animal Bailee) and Veterinarian Reimbursement coverage, plus Lost Key Liability.
To further protect yourself and animals, you can customize your coverage with options like:
- Broadened Property Damage ($2.42/month)
- Equipment & Inventory (starting at $4.08/month)
- Employee Dishonesty ($4.92/month)
- Cyber Liability ($6.58/month)
- Additional Pet Protection (starting at $1.99/month)
- Additional Veterinarian Reimbursement ($3.99/month)
How to Get Workers Compensation Insurance
If you have a PCI policy that includes general liability (see the list under “Who Needs Workers Compensation Insurance?”), you can apply to add workers comp. Select workers compensation coverage in your user dashboard, then fill out and submit the form to apply. An insurance specialist will respond soon to help you get set up.
This is the info you’ll need to finish your application:
- Your name
- Your business name
- Your state
- Your industry
- Type of insurance (you can also apply for commercial auto insurance or surety/fidelity bonds at the same time as workers comp)
- Your business phone number
- Your business email address
Important Note for ND, OH, WA, WY, and Puerto Rico Pet Pros: If you live in one of these 5 U.S. states (or the U.S. Virgin Islands) you’re required to buy workers comp insurance through a special state fund. Contact your state insurance department for more information.
See What Else We Cover
Expanding your business? PCI is designed to grow with you. See these other ways we can help you thrive:
(Add to your Workers Comp application)
(Add to your Workers Comp application)
(Add anytime through your user dashboard)
