Is workers comp required in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts generally requires all employers with one or more employees to carry workers compensation. Owners, partners and corporate officers are treated under their own rules, and some workers such as certain agricultural or domestic employees may be handled differently.
Buying coverage in Massachusetts
Workers comp in Massachusetts is a competitive private market. Agents compare carriers that write your class of business, and an assigned-risk option exists for employers that private carriers decline.
Who sets the rules
The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents oversees workers comp in Massachusetts. Classifications and loss costs in Massachusetts come from the Workers' Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts, an independent rating organization, so codes and rules can differ from NCCI states.
What Massachusetts employers should know
- Massachusetts can issue stop-work orders to businesses found without coverage, which makes keeping a policy in force important.
- Massachusetts uses its own rating bureau, so rates and rules can differ from NCCI states.
How premiums are calculated
Insurers in Massachusetts price policies from payroll by classification, then apply your claims experience and any credits or debits. Keeping payroll estimates current avoids a large audit adjustment. Learn more about how workers comp rates work and preparing for an audit.
Industry guides for Massachusetts employers
Contractor workers comp
Workers comp for general contractors and trades like roofing, electrical, plumbing and painting.…
Restaurant workers comp
Workers comp for restaurants, cafes, bars and caterers. Burns, cuts and slips, tipped payroll,…
Retail workers comp
Workers comp for retail shops, boutiques, convenience stores and specialty retailers. What it…
Small business workers comp
Workers comp for small businesses: when it is required, how premium works, pay-as-you-go billing…
Massachusetts workers comp FAQ
Is workers comp required in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts generally requires all employers with one or more employees to carry workers compensation. Rules and exceptions change, so confirm your situation with the state agency or an agent.
Who oversees workers comp in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents administers the workers compensation system in Massachusetts.
Can I buy Massachusetts workers comp from a private insurer?
Yes. Private insurers write workers comp in Massachusetts, and a market of last resort is available for businesses that are hard to place.
How is workers comp priced in Massachusetts?
Classifications and loss costs in Massachusetts come from the Workers' Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts, an independent rating organization, so codes and rules can differ from NCCI states. Insurers in Massachusetts price policies from payroll by classification, then apply your claims experience and any credits or debits. Keeping payroll estimates current avoids a large audit adjustment.