When employees become injured at work, they may be able to receive financial compensation for their injuries. Workers’ compensation is an insurance that exists so employees do not lose their jobs if they get injured at work. It allows these injured employees to collect benefits that help them while they cannot return to work. This compensation can cover medical bills, lost wages, any lost future wages, and more. In the state of New York, there are certain mandates on which employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance and what types of employees are covered by the law.
Who is Covered?
In the state of New York, typically all employers are required to provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees in the event they become injured at work. Employers must cover certain workers for this insurance. This includes:
- All workers employed for a “for-profit” business (part-time, borrowed, leased, or volunteer employees)
- Employees in counties/municipalities that engage in “hazardous” work
- Public school teachers, excluding those in New York City and public school aids
- Employees (and some volunteers) of the State of New York
- Domestic workers that work 40 hours or more a week by the same employer
- Farm workers who were paid $1,200 or more in the preceding year
- Any worker determined by the Board to be an employee
- All corporate officers (if the corporation has more than 2 officers/stockholders)
- Officers of one or two person corporations
- Most employees of nonprofit organizations who receive compensation
Who is Not Covered?
Workers’ compensation laws cover a great amount of people. However, there are some situations in which some people are not covered by the law. This may include:
- Those who volunteer their services for nonprofit organizations with no compensation (stipends, room and board, or other benefits with monetary value)
- Ordained, commissioned, or licensed ministers, priests and rabbis. This may also include sextons, Christian Science readers, and members of religious orders
- Members of supervised amateur athletic activities who work on a nonprofit basis
- Those who teach for nonprofit religious, charitable, or educational institutions
- Those engaged in non-manual labor in or for a nonprofit religious, charitable, or educational institution
- Individuals who receive charitable aid from a religious or charitable institution who perform work in return
- Those covered for types of employment under another workers’ compensation system (maritime trades, interstate railroad employees, federal government employees, etc.)
- The spouse and children under 18 of a farming employer
- Certain employees of foreign governments
- New York City police officers, firefighters, and sanitation workers who are covered under the New York State General Municipal Law
- Individuals who do yard work or casual chores
- Certain real estate or media salespeople who are independent contractors
- Certain insurance agents or brokers who are independent contractors
- Sole proprietors, partners, and one/two person corporate officers
Contact our Firm
If you or someone you know was injured at work, contact the Law Offices of George Poulos today.
The Law Offices of George Poulos is an experienced Workers’ Compensation, personal injury, and Social Security Disability law firm with offices in Queens and the Bronx. If you require strong legal representation, contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation.
