No one wants to think about this contingency. Nevertheless, accidents at work are risks that are very much inherent to working life. As an employer, it is your duty to anticipate them and protect the best interests of your employees.
A legal obligation
Are you about to recruit your first employee? Then you are due to take out insurance against accidents in the workplace or while commuting between their home and your business.
Don’t try to get around this rule, as it would make you liable for the payment of fines to the Federal Agency for Occupational Risks (Fedris). Worse still, in the event of an accident, you would be liable for all the compensation due to your employee. It's not worth the risk, safety is priceless. What's more, the premiums you pay fall into the business expenses category on your tax form.
Extended but limited coverage
As an employer, you have 8 days to report your employee's accident at work. The insurance covers all related physical damage, as well as the various treatment costs. Above all, it compensates for loss of income:
- The victim receives 90% of his or her basic salary in the event of temporary incapacity to work.
- In the event of permanent disability, he or she receives compensation in proportion to the level of disability.
- In the event of death, the employee’s beneficiaries receive a pension.
Compulsory insurance has its limits, however. The basic salary from which the compensation or pension is calculated is capped at € 44,817.89 gross per year. Beyond that, there is no compensation for loss of income, unless you decide to grant your new recruit a higher level of protection.
Supplements to an attractive salary package
There are voluntary insurance policies to compensate more widely for the consequences of potential accidents at work. Deductibility of premiums, declaration of the accident within 8 days, compensation in the event of disability or death... the basic rules remain the same, except that the cover is obviously extended.
Is your future employee expected to earn more than € 44,817.89 gross per year? You can also choose to insure income above this ceiling. In the event of an accident at work, the calculation of the employee’s compensation or pension will then be based on their actual salary, thus guaranteeing their standard of living.
Another option is to extend coverage to accidents occurring in private life. Obviously, you are not responsible for these events, but the format is not without benefit for you. By offering a competitive salary package, you can motivate and retain your new recruit and improve your employer image. This is a significant advantage if you subsequently decide to recruit again...
