We’ve all heard that spring is a time to start fresh. It’s the growing season, and everywhere life is reawakening. During this time, many businesses explore seasonal ventures. They often prove very profitable additions to normal operations.
Seasonal operations might mean hiring more workers in your clothing store, or bringing on extra planters to cultivate your nursery. But, whenever you expand staff, you often still have an obligation to these workers. All seasonal opportunities bring unique safety risks. In some cases, these might lead to employee injuries or illnesses. If something happens to a member of your team, you might have to offer them workers’ compensation.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation Laws
If an employee gets hurt on the job, they might have to take time off to recover. They might not even be able to work anymore. As a result, their ability to make a living might suffer. Workers’ compensation insurance can help provide employees with the income they need.
Most states require businesses to offer their employees workers’ compensation coverage. Often, all employees, including seasonal and temporary workers, can qualify for workers’ comp. Even so, state laws vary. Some businesses might only have to offer temporary workers this coverage if they hire more than a certain number, for example. Therefore, talk to your workers’ comp authority and your insurance agent. They can help you determine if seasonal employees can get this protection.
Protecting Seasonal Employees
Bringing seasonal workers into your business creates risk scenarios. Often, these risks involve letting someone who does not work for you regularly handle business. Inexperience or unfamiliarity might heighten this person’s risk of getting hurt. Businesses should go out of the way to look after temporary employees.
- You might feel that you don’t have to hire experienced workers for seasonal jobs. However, many seasonal positions still need a degree of expertise. Always hire workers who can provide, at least a basic understanding of the job.
- Provide training for all employees as necessary. Track all workers to make sure they follow all rules and requirements.
- Enforce safety rules and protective equipment requirements for all workers.
- Discipline or terminate any employees who do not follow safety requirements.
- Should employees express safety concerns about their working conditions, address their problems expediently.
If any employee--seasonal or permanent--experiences injury, immediately start an investigation. If the employee qualifies for workers’ comp, you often have to follow a certain process to ensure they get the benefits they deserve. Always ensure the smooth processing of all workers’ comp claims. Contact us for a California worker's compensation insurance quote.