Insuring Household Help

’She’s just the babysitter!’ No, she’s a liability.

The costs of a lawsuit with hired help may be too much for your pocketbook to bear. To keep liabilities at bay, you’ll first need to determine what kind of help you’ve hired and then obtain the correct coverage to protect against liabilities.

Types of household help

1. Individuals hired through an outside firm such as chefs or nurses

• Determine if the individual is your employee or an employee of the firm.
• Obtain a copy of the firm’s certificates of insurance documenting that the firm has workers’ compensation insurance for its employees. If the organization also has health and disability insurance for its employees, then hired help injured on your property will receive medical treatment through their employer.

2. Occasional employees such as babysitters or youngsters who rake your leaves

• If you hire individuals for occasional jobs for your home, you should evaluate your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to determine whether you have enough liability coverage.
• Consider getting more liability insurance by raising your existing amount or purchasing an umbrella liability policy.
• Learn more about the no-fault medical coverage within your homeowner’s insurance policy. This coverage allows you to submit medical claims to your insurance company if someone gets injured on your property (other than immediate family members). Most people tend to only buy $1,000 worth of this coverage, yet you may want to increase that amount to $5,000 for added protection.

3. Permanent full or part-time hired help

• If you hire individuals to come work at your home on a regular basis, consult an attorney regarding tax deductions and workers’ compensation issues. Then, contact Warren G. Bender Co to purchase a workers’ compensation policy. This will provide protection for medical care and rehabilitation for injured hired help. It will also cover lost wages if individuals get hurt and cannot work, and death benefits for their beneficiaries.

Contact Warren G. Bender Co. at (916) 380-5300 to learn more about the requirements for this coverage. If you need to obtain workers’ compensation insurance and do not purchase it, your homeowner’s policy will not cover damages or penalties brought against you. So, let us help you understand your risks and potential liability insurance solutions for hired help.