No. Workers’ compensation insurance is only for employees who receive a salary or hourly wage, have taxes taken out of their payroll, and receive a W-2 form at the end of a year. If you are an independent contractor, you likely receive a 1099 form from the company to report your income at the end of the year. However, you should beware that some California employers intentionally classify employees as independent contracts to avoid the costs of having an employee.
According to the DWC, contractors must have control over their job duties. When employers control the details or manner of work, an individual is an employee regardless of classification. Some other things that differentiate independent contractors from employees include the right to fire an employee, payroll deductions for unemployment insurance and Social Security, provision of necessary materials and tools for employees, and specific work requirements in terms of daily or weekly schedules.
Call us. We can see whether you deserve workers’ compensation benefits or whether you have other options for seeking compensation.