Freelancer/Subcontractor Insurance

[Dan Maynard]

Full time is an interesting one. I do a regular 2 days per week for a tree firm, I filled in the same assessment to satisfy myself I am acting properly by staying self employed. Maybe the last question on the form is critical, as HMRC putting a number on the distinction between temporary and permanent:
>>
Has the worker done any self-employed work of a
similar nature for other clients in the last 12
months?
You could run it again and answer no to that one instead and see what the answer comes back as.

[benedmonds]

I probably should have just done this before posting.. 

I asked  Trust:

Please can you confirm if self employed freelance contractors working as part of our team are covered by our insurance?

They are NOT bona fide sub-contractors as they would be working under our instruction

But I am not sure they can be classed a Labour only sub contractors as they provide some equipment, chainsaw, climbing kit, PPE etc..

 

They replied:

As they will be working under your direction and control, they would be classed as labour-only sub-contractors. That’s the key element regardless of whether they use their own equipment.

 

Thanks.

 Administration Manager

Trust Insurance Services Ltd

[Mark Bolam]

Nice one Ben.

 

I’m sure some on here will still argue with you like!

[monkeybusiness]

1 minute ago, benedmonds said:

I probably should have just done this before posting.. 

I asked  Trust:

Please can you confirm if self employed freelance contractors working as part of our team are covered by our insurance?

They are NOT bona fide sub-contractors as they would be working under our instruction

But I am not sure they can be classed a Labour only sub contractors as they provide some equipment, chainsaw, climbing kit, PPE etc..

 

They replied:

As they will be working under your direction and control, they would be classed as labour-only sub-contractors. That’s the key element regardless of whether they use their own equipment.

 

Thanks.

 Administration Manager

Trust Insurance Services Ltd

Which is what everyone with actual knowledge of the subject has been saying on this and the previous post from the start... 

[eggsarascal]

No one will say, "I told you so".

 

Thats not aimed at you Ben.

[benedmonds]

31 minutes ago, monkeybusiness said:

Which is what everyone with actual knowledge of the subject has been saying on this and the previous post from the start... 

It was also my position at the start, but Paddy made some arguments that made me think and after looking at my insurance documents I was not convinced either way.  We can carry on as before..

[Mark Bolam]

No harm in checking mate.

[Paddy1000111]

1 hour ago, benedmonds said:

It was also my position at the start, but Paddy made some arguments that made me think and after looking at my insurance documents I was not convinced either way.  We can carry on as before..

I didn't want to start a massive argument about insurance on that other thread. My only real point was if you're going to be using freelance contractors then ask your insurance company if they are covered. I wasn't saying hard facts that no-one was covered or everyone was, insurance companies are a rule to themselves and as you posted up in your first post they can set their own standards as to what they call freelance/employee/sub-contractor and they can also specify how big the trees are you're covered to cut and how many employees they will cover etc. You are at the end of the day paying good money to be covered, they can spare 5 minutes of their time to reply to an email with black or white answers which you can then save and keep for future if needed! 

 

Maybe I am being an idiot (High chances of this) but the email they replied to... You said in your original post that "Sub contractors need their own insurance" Then in their email they said "They are a labour only subcontractor". I would have expected them to say "Under your policy these workers would be classed as employees and covered as per your insurance agreement" but I don't want to nit-pick? Insurers babbling like that P*** me off. 

[openspaceman]

Keeping this only to public and employers liability; what is actually covered if an employee, labour only or free lance employee or  sub contractor is injured or injures someone?

 

As I understand it for injuries at work the insurance only covers an employer for his negligence. So if an employee injures himself through no fault of the employer no payout. If the injury happens as a result of the negligence of another employer then it is settled by insurance.

 

I kept personal life insurance till my youngest child was 18 as well as mortgage insurance in case my injuries were my fault (they were).

[Rich Rule]

Confirmation.