Workers’ compensation for domestic workers in California

Work-related injuries do happen and, for many workers in California, the regulations surrounding workers’ compensation may not be clear. An employee of a construction company or warehouse facility will more than likely know if they have coverage, but what about domestic workers employed by an individual or household?

California does include full-time domestic workers, like housekeepers, gardeners and nannies, eligible for these benefits. How do you know if you qualify?

A no-fault system

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that offers benefits regardless of how you became injured. This means that if you fell down the stairs while dusting, cut yourself while trimming hedges or sustained any other injury while doing your job, you could still qualify to receive benefits.

As long as your injury occurred while responsibly performing the duties of your position, you may qualify. There are exceptions to this, two of which are the commission of a crime and working while intoxicated

Qualifying factors

If you are a full-time employee of the household, you may be able to receive workers’ compensation. Full-time qualification varies depending on the type of work performed. In California, full-time starts at 20 hours per week for employees who work inside the house, and 10 hours per week if work is outside.

There are additional factors to consider, including how much money you earned thus far in your employment.

If you are a full-time domestic worker who sustained an injury on the job, you may qualify for benefits under California’s workers’ compensation laws.