Employer Information

HOW THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW APPLIES TO EMPLOYERS

PURPOSE

The Workers’ Compensation Act defines the responsibility of the employer to provide prompt medical and disability benefits for injuries sustained on the job by workers, resulting in partial or total incapacity or death. In return, the employer is shielded from tort liability for these injuries.

EMPLOYER

Every employer, individual, firm, association, or corporation, regularly employing three or more persons, part-time or full time, shall provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Exempted officers of corporations or exempted members of limited liability companies shall not reduce the number of employees for this purpose.

EMPLOYEE

“Employee” or “worker” shall include every person, including minors, working full-time or part-time under a contract of hire, written or implied.

CORPORATE OFFFICERS/LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MEMBERS

Corporate officers and limited liability company members are considered employees of the company. Any officer or member of a limited liability company (maximum of 5) may exempt themselves from coverage by filing a Form WC-10 with their insurance company. The exemptions shall not decrease the number of employees for purposes of determining the employer’s obligations under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

PARTNER/SOLE PROPRIETOR

A partner or sole proprietor is not an employee of the business unless he or she wishes to be included as an employee in the coverage provided and so advises his or her insurance company on Form WC-10.

CONTRACTOR

A contractor who is subject to the Workers ’ Compensation Law, who sublets any part of his or her contract work to a subcontractor, may be liable for coverage for the employees of the subcontractor if the subcontractor has not obtained workers’ compensation insurance coverage.

COVERAGE

Every employer subject to the workers’ compensation law must insure payment of benefits to injured workers by securing a policy of insurance or by qualifying and being approved as a self-insurer. Employers desiring insurance coverage should contact an insurance agency representing a company licensed to write workers’ compensation insurance in this state.

RATES

Employers having questions regarding insurance rates or premiums should contact the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, 2 Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334. The telephone number is (404) 656-2056.

SELF-INSURANCE

Employers desiring to be self-insured must file an application with the Board and include three years of audited financial statements and a non-refundable $500.00 application fee made payable to the Georgia Self-Insurers Guaranty Trust Fund. If the application is approved by the Board and the Trust Fund, a surety bond or letter of credit will be required. The amount of security that is required is determined after a thorough review of the application and financial statements.

LIABILITY

An employer failing to provide coverage, as required by law, shall be held responsible for compensable injuries in the same manner as an employer having coverage. In addition, the Board may assess attorney’s fees, civil penalties, and a 10% increase in compensation to the employee, if the employer refuses or willfully neglects to secure insurance.

CIVIL PENALTIES

Any person who willfully fails to file any form or report required by the Board, fails to follow any order of the Board, or violates any rule or regulation of the Board shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than $100.00 or more than $1,000.00 per violation.

Any person who knowingly and intentionally makes any false or misleading statements for the purpose of obtaining or denying benefits or payment under the law may be assessed a civil penalty of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $10,000 per violation.

The Board may assess a civil penalty of not less than $500.00 or more than $5,000.00 per occurrence for violation of an employer’s duty to provide coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

CRIMINAL PROVISION

Employers refusing or willfully neglecting to secure insurance coverage as required by law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $10,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or both.

ENFORCEMENT UNIT

The Enforcement Division investigates incidents of non-compliance and allegations of fraud. The number to call or report fraud, including failure to secure workers’ compensation coverage, is (404) 657-7285.

NOTICE

Employers must post a notice reflecting their compliance with the law and post the State Board of Workers’ Compensation Bill of Rights for the injured worker, along with a Panel of Physicians (P1 or P3), in a conspicuous place. These notices may be obtained by calling 404-656-3870.

The insurance company’s name must be posted, or if self-insured the certificate of self-insurance must be posted in a prominent place.

REPORTING

Immediately upon knowledge of an injury, an employer must complete and file with its insurer’s or self-insurer’s claims office, an Employer’s First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease (Form WC-1). Injuries involving seven or more days of lost time must be reported to the Board within 21 days of the employer’s knowledge of disability.

Failure to file timely reports with the Board and/or make timely payments of income or medical benefits will result in late payment penalties and may result in late filing penalties and the assessment of attorney’s fees.

LAW AND RULES

For $52.00 prepaid, Lexis-Nexis, Matthew Bender, 1275 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12204-4024, 1-800-533-1637, will furnish a copy of Workers’ Compensation Law and the Rules and Regulations of the Board.

MEDICAL CARE FOR INJURED EMPLOYEES

Employers must select ONE of the following two options to provide medical care for injured employees. The choices will be known as Option 1, Traditional Panel of Physicians or Option 2, a panel listing a Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization certified by the Board.

Option 1. The employer may maintain a Traditional Panel of Physicians that shall consist of at least six non-associated physicians, but is not limited to six. However, the Board may grant exceptions to the required size of the panel where it is demonstrated that more than six physicians or groups of physicians are not reasonably accessible. The minimum panel shall include an orthopedic physician and no more than two physicians shall be from industrial clinics. The panel shall include a minority physician, where feasible.

Option 2. The employer or workers’ compensation insurer of an employer may contract with a Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization certified by the Board. A “Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization” means a plan certified by the Board that provides for the delivery and management of treatment to injured employees under the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act. The managed care organization must include minority providers.

The employer must post their Panel of Physicians in prominent places within the workplace. If the employer is using an MCO to provide medical care, the list of all network physicians must be available to the employee. An employee may select any physician on the panel and may make one change to another physician on the panel without approval from the employer. Further changes require approval of the employer/insurer or the Board. Employers must fully explain the purpose of the panel to all employees and must assist employees in obtaining medical care when an injury occurs.

Failure to comply with these rules may result in the employee having the freedom to select any physician he/she chooses to provide the employee with care for his her injuries, and may result in an assessment of penalties and attorney’s fees against the employer.

SUBSEQUENT INJURY

The Official Code of Georgia Chapter 34-9-368 was amended by establishing June 30, 2006 as the last date of injury eligible for reimbursement by the Fund. For information, about the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund, write or call the Administrator, Subsequent Injury Trust Fund, Marquis II Tower, Suite 1250, 285 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303, (404) 656-7000 or visit their website at www.sitf.georgia.gov.

INFORMATION

For additional information, you may call (404) 656-3818 in the Atlanta area or 1-800-533-0682 outside the Atlanta area, or visit our website at www.sbwc.georgia.gov.

Rev. (7/15)