Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Laws: Are Employees Of Small Companies Covered?

In Mississippi, when someone suffers a workplace injury or illness, on top of recovering from their illness or impairment and undergoing treatment, they must also figure out if they are covered under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws, and, if so, how to get workers’ compensation benefits.  But are all workers in Mississippi covered under workers’ compensation laws, and, if not, who is exempt? If someone works for a very small employer, such as a mom-and-pop business or family-owned operation, are they covered? These are tough questions that Mississippi workers must ask when they are injured on the job, and while navigating the workers’ compensation system.

Workers’ Compensation in Mississippi: The 5 Employee Rule 

The good news is that nearly all Mississippi workers are covered under Mississippi’s workers’ compensation laws. However, there are some exceptions. Notably, under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws, there are some exceptions for extremely small businesses. Such businesses can range from very small coffee shops or bars to mechanic shops, pet services employers, mom-and-pop restaurants and bistros, and even fitness studios – you name it. Under the laws, as summarized by the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, which provides information about Mississippi workers’ compensation to the public,  businesses with under five employees are not required to provide workers’ compensation insurance, and such businesses may choose to do so voluntarily. This means that if an injured worker’s employer is a Mississippi employer and has five or more employees, they may be covered by workers’ compensation through their employer. However, if the injured worker is employed by an extremely small business, that is less than 5 employees, the injured worker may not be covered under workers’ compensation insurance coverage, unless their employer has opted voluntarily to provide workers’ compensation to their employees. It is important to keep in mind that there are other exceptions to Mississippi workers’ compensation coverage under the laws, such as, among other exemptions, domestic and farm labor employers and federal employers are not mandated to provide workers’ compensation insurance, regardless of size.

Regardless of Employer Size, Seek Legal Help if You’ve Been Injured on the Job 

If a worker works for a very small employer, he or she may feel like there are no options when an on-the-job injury occurs. However, regardless of employer size, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a workplace injury or illness occurs. An experienced and skilled Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer can investigate whether the employer – big or small – is covered under workers’ compensation insurance laws, and can go to bat for employees navigating the complex workers’ compensation system to get medical and wage benefits. The Louisiana & Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe, PLLC, are experienced with workers’ compensation laws, including the ins-and-outs of employee eligibility. Reach out to us today for help.

Source:

mwcc.ms.gov/pdf/WCFacts2013.pdf