Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Help for Injured Workers Page
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
No matter what type of business you run, your employees can get hurt. Luckily, workers’ compensation insurance, also known as workers’ comp, can help give your employees the benefits they need if they suffer a work-related injury or illness. Workers’ comp can protect your business and your employees by helping cover:
- Missed wages if your injured or ill worker needs time off from work while they recover.
- Medical expenses to treat your injured or ill employee.
- Vocational rehabilitation if your worker needs ongoing care to help them get back to work.
- Death benefits, like funeral costs, if a worker passes away in a work-related incident.
Florida requires every person working for another person, group, firm, or corporation to have workers’ comp. This includes people working under any type of contract, even implied contracts. The requirement also includes all lawfully and unlawfully employed immigrants and minors. Florida doesn’t require coverage for:
- Licensed real estate brokers
- Musical theater performers
- Temporary workers
- Most independent contractors, with the exception of construction workers
There is a bit of a gray area in the Florida laws for volunteers, sports officials, chauffeurs or other drivers. For more information on these workers, visit the State of Florida’s Workers’ Compensation page.