Workers Compensation Insurance
Workers comp is mandatory in nearly every state from your first employee. It pays medical costs and lost wages when a sales associate, bench jeweler, or appraiser is injured on the job — and protects you from employee injury lawsuits.
Workers Comp for Jewelry Businesses
Workers compensation is required by law in almost every state once you hire your first employee. It covers job-related injuries and illnesses — and in exchange, it generally shields you from being sued directly by an injured employee.
Jewelry Store Exposures
While a jewelry store is far lower-risk than construction, real injury exposures exist:
- Bench jewelers: Cuts, burns from torches and soldering, eye injuries from polishing wheels, and repetitive-strain from detail work
- Sales staff: Slips, lifting injuries, and — critically — trauma and injury from armed robbery
- Everyone: Robbery-related physical and psychological injury is a genuine workers comp exposure in retail jewelry
Classification Codes
Retail jewelry employees typically fall under low-to-moderate retail and clerical class codes, which keep rates reasonable compared to higher-hazard trades. Proper classification — separating sales, clerical, and bench work — ensures you don't overpay.
What It Pays
- Medical treatment for work-related injuries
- Lost wages during recovery
- Permanent disability benefits
- Death benefits to dependents
- Employer's liability for injury lawsuits
Owner Considerations
In most states, owners, sole proprietors, and corporate officers can elect to include or exclude themselves. We help you structure this to balance premium savings against personal protection.
What's Covered
Frequently Asked Questions
In almost every state, yes — workers comp is required once you have any employees, even part-time. The thresholds vary by state, but most require coverage from the first W-2 employee. We confirm the rule for your state.
Yes. Injuries an employee suffers during an armed robbery — physical and, in many states, psychological trauma — are work-related and covered by workers compensation. This is one of the most important reasons retail jewelers carry it.