Restaurant Work Comp Insurance is an important coverage to have when you run such an environment where injuries can very easily occur. California state prohibits owning and running a restaurant without offering Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Having Workers’ Compensation Insurance is always a smart business move because it protects restaurant owners from costly liabilities. As an added benefit, restaurant owners can generally deduct their Workers’ Compensation on their federal taxes.
What are the common restaurant employee injuries?
When we are enjoying our food in a relaxed, comfortable restaurant atmosphere, we don’t think about the fast-paced, often stressed-out world in the back of the house. The frenetic pace behind the scenes in the kitchen, storage areas and loading docks creates an environment where injuries can easily occur. The common restaurant employee injuries are:
- Cuts from knife use, kitchen equipment, and damaged tableware
- Burns from hot liquids, chemicals, plates, stoves, ovens, or fryers
- Slips and falls due to wet or otherwise slippery floors
- Strains from lifting and carrying objects
- Auto accidents during delivery and catering
These injuries can leave a restaurant short-staffed. This can cost the owner time and, without insurance, out-of-pocket money for medical exams and treatments. This adds unwanted, unexpected and unnecessary costs to the bottom line of an already tough-to-run small business. Workers’ Compensation Insurance for small business can help protect restaurant owners and employees from incurring these costs and provide loss control solutions to avoid accidents and promote a positive safety culture.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance covers medical expenses, physical therapy expenses and lost wages for employees who get sick or injured through the course of their work duties. Restaurant Work Comp benefits can also include compensation for economic loss. Moreover, the benefits payable to the dependents of workers who lose their life in the course of employment. It usually does not cover damages for pain and suffering, or punitive damages for employer negligence.