Summer is a fantastic time for many Miamisburg businesses! Whether you’re an ice cream shop bustling with customers, a landscaping company taking on more clients, or a retail store seeing increased foot traffic, seasonal hiring often becomes essential to meet demand. Bringing on extra hands is great for your bottom line, but it also means your business’s risk profile changes.
At Bucher Insurance, we’ve seen firsthand how a little foresight can prevent big problems. That’s why we want to highlight key insurance coverages that become even more critical when you’re welcoming seasonal staff: General Liability and Workers’ Compensation.
Seasonal Staffing: A Game Changer for Your Business (and Your Insurance!)
Think of it this way: more employees mean more interactions, more activity, and inherently, more potential for accidents or unforeseen events. Even if your seasonal employees are only with you for a few months, they are still part of your team, and your responsibility.
It’s a common misconception that temporary workers don’t impact your insurance needs, but that’s simply not the case. Their presence directly affects your exposure to risk, and your insurance policies need to reflect that reality to ensure adequate protection.
General Liability: Your First Line of Defense
General Liability (GL) insurance is often called “slip and fall” insurance, and for good reason! It’s fundamental for almost any business. When you bring on seasonal staff, particularly those who interact with customers or work on client property, your general liability risks can increase.
What General Liability typically covers:
- Third-party bodily injury: If a customer slips and falls in your store, or a seasonal employee accidentally knocks over a display causing injury to a visitor.
- Third-party property damage: If your seasonal team accidentally damages a client’s fence while landscaping, or causes damage inside a customer’s home during a service call.
- Legal defense costs: If someone sues your business due to a covered incident, GL can help cover legal fees, settlements, and judgments, even if the claim is baseless.
With more people on your premises or representing your business, the chances of an unexpected incident occurring go up. Ensuring your General Liability policy limits are appropriate for your increased activity level is crucial.
Workers’ Compensation: Mandatory Protection for Your Team (and You!)
This is a big one, especially here in Ohio! If your business has one or more employees (full-time, part-time, or seasonal), you are generally required by Ohio law to carry Workers’ Compensation coverage. Ohio is a monopolistic state, which means most businesses purchase this coverage directly from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC).
Why Workers’ Comp is essential for seasonal staff:
- Covers employee injuries/illnesses: If a seasonal employee gets injured on the job (e.g., a server slips, a retail associate lifts something improperly, or a landscaper sustains a cut), Workers’ Comp covers their medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of lost wages.
- Protects your business: It shields your business from costly lawsuits related to workplace injuries. Without it, you could be directly responsible for medical bills, lost wages, and potentially face significant fines and legal action from the state.
- Includes all employees: It’s important to remember that “employee” for Workers’ Comp purposes includes seasonal and temporary staff. Their wages count towards your total payroll, which is a factor in your premium. If you increase your seasonal payroll, it’s vital to report these changes to avoid an underreported payroll that could lead to a surprise bill or penalties during an audit.
Don’t assume that because an employee is temporary, they aren’t covered or don’t need to be reported. The BWC mandates coverage for virtually all employees, regardless of their full-time, part-time, or seasonal status.
Stay Protected as Your Business Grows!
Summer growth is exciting, and we want to help you embrace it with confidence! Your business insurance should evolve with your operations. Underreporting payroll or overlooking increased liability exposure can lead to significant financial headaches down the line.
Now is the perfect time to review your commercial insurance policies. Make sure your General Liability limits are sufficient and that your Workers’ Compensation coverage accurately reflects your current staffing levels, including all your fantastic summer hires.
Don’t wait for an incident to discover a gap in your coverage. Request a quote from Jon or Emily at Bucher Insurance today to make sure your business is protected as it grows this summer and beyond! We’re here in Miamisburg to offer personalized advice and find the right solutions for your unique business needs.
