Minnesota Workers' Compensation Laws

Minnesota Labor and Industry, Workers Compensation Division

85 7th Place East
Suite 500
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-296-2488

What is Workers' Compensation?

The basic purpose of the Workers’ Compensation is to provide wage replacement benefits and medical treatment for employees who have been injured or become ill due to a work-related injury or illness. It prevents the employer from bearing the costs of injuries that occur during normal business operations.

How does workers' comp help my business?

Your business benefits by not being liable for injuries that occur as a part of normal business operations. This applies whether the injury was the fault of the business or was caused by negligent actions of the employee.

How does workers' comp help my employee?

Employees benefit from workers' comp coverage by having lost wages covered while they are hurt or sick and not able to work. It also pays for medical costs they might incur as a result of the sickness or injury.

Minnesota Work Comp Premium Credits

Minnesota allows insurance companies to offer a scheduled credit or debit up to 25% of the premium. This makes it crucially important to shop your policy with as many carriers as possible.

Minnesota Workers Compensation Assigned Risk Plan(MWCARP)

MWCARP is the source of workers' compensation and employers' liability coverage for Minnesota employers who have been unable to secure other coverage through the voluntary market. The MWCARP was created by the State Legislature to ensure that all Minnesota employers are able to obtain workers' compensation coverage as required by law.

Minnesota Workers Compensation Insurance Association

Minnesota is a non NCCI state. Meaning it has its own regulating organization, The Minnesota Workers' Compensation Insurance Association(MWCIA). The MWCIA was created to collect, process, and analyze workers’ compensation data so that it can provide high quality, consistent information to our insurer members and regulators.

State Insurance Directives Regarding Covid-19

The state of Minnesota has not issues any directives.

Discretionary order in effect from 03/13/2020 - further notice.

State Orders Regarding Insurance Claims Related to Coronavirus

This bill creates a rebuttable presumption that an employee who contracts COVID-19 is presumed to have an occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment, provided the employee satisfies the following conditions: 1) is a first responder or certain other related employee, as enumerated in the bill (e.g., peace officer, firefighter, paramedic, nurse or health care worker, correctional officer, home care/long-term care provider, child care provider for the aforementioned employees); and 2) contraction of COVID-19 is confirmed by a positive lab test or, if unavailable, diagnosed and documented by physician, physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse. A copy of the positve test/diagnosis must be provided to employer or insurer. The presumption may be rebutted only if the employer or insurer shows the employment was not a direct cause of the disease. A denial of liability must meet statutory requirements for a denial. The date of injury is the date the employee was unable to work due to COVID-19 diagnosis or due to symptoms later diagnosed as COVID-19. An employee who contracts COVID-19 but is otherwise not entitled to this presumption may still claim an occupational disease as provided in other provisions.

Mandatory order in effect from 04/07/2020 until 05/01/2020.