Insurance implications of a changing workplace
This is a BCA webinar in partnership with Lloyd & Whyte. The main focus is the insurance implications of a changing workplace. A lot of queries have been received from people whose situations have either changed over the last year (due to COVID or not), also members needing support and guidance around general insurance issues. This webinar looks to explore this and give some answers.
Key talking points in the video (click on to jump to)
Working at home- Insurance implications
Working in various/different premises
Leasing a part of your premises
Question & Answer Section
Q1. I’ve had to change my place of work due to Covid. Will my policy cover me for this temporary switch or do I need a different policy?
A1. It will probably vary on the policy. Most general chiropractic clinic policies will probably have territorial limits which typically will be anywhere in the UK. However, they probably will still have a set designated address or location that is associated with the policy so I can’t imagine that being a problem.
It’s going to depend on who the provider is, I can speak from Lloyd & Whyte’s point of view and say again if it was a call to us, would it be a case of well you’re covered anywhere, everywhere in the UK.
Those are the territorial limits for it typically, again, if you are moving differently between premises different policies will react in different ways, for example, sometimes it will cover you up to a certain amount of stuff you can take with you outside of the premises, in transit somewhere else, in essence, give your insurer a quick call, see what they say it’s almost certainly not going to be a problem I would imagine but it’s a case of speaking to the insurer probably.
Q2. What about if I’m doing home visits?
A2. On the home visit front, it is mainly dependant on if you have a mobile policy. This will dictate if your insurer is happy for content being away from set premises. When you take contents, or anything away from the premises you increase the risk of them being lost, stolen or damaged. Insurers will also decide that you’ve increased the insurer’s liability risks because you’re not in a controlled environment; you could be at home with someone’s dog and they’ve got kids running around. The chances of you or someone else getting injured a lot easier.
It’s unfortunate, as it sounds like the common answer, but it’s double-checking with the insurer to make sure they’re happy with you doing home visits but providing they’re on that mobile basis or they’re flexible with it, it, shouldn’t be a problem.
Q3. Do I need different cover if I’m doing chiropractic treatment at a patient’s home rather than my own?
Q4. The same thing will apply, double-check with the insurer to make sure you’ve got the policy set up on a mobile basis. The same goes for liability, check with the insurer. Just to make everyone aware, public liability and employers’ liability, is typically set up on what is called a territorial basis. On most policies that are set up in the UK, they’re on a territorial limit basis, so the policies should automatically extend but it’s just good practice to inform your insurer. Make sure they’re aware because they may be rating the policy in a certain way which means that if you’re increasing the exposure by going to multiple locations they need to note that on the policy and make sure they’re charging a relevant premium.
Q3. If I’m providing chiropractic treatment from a garden room, do I need public liability insurance?
A3. You can consider to some extent that the garden room is just an extension of your home. Make sure that your home insurer is aware that you have people traipsing up and down your garden, coming through a side gate or through the front door.
Your home insurer will need to know to make sure they’re happy with that additional exposure from a property owner’s liability point of view. Property owners liability differs from public liability as it defines your liability as a homeowner.
For example if a storm happened and a slate fell off your roof and hit someone’s car that’s your property owner’ liability. Whereas with a business’s public liability that’s you as a business owner making sure the people coming on to your business premises are safe from tripping over, cutting themselves, whatever may be. That’s why I say your home insurers property owners liability will not automatically or is unlikely to automatically extend to your business public liability.
With the garden room in that case make sure the home insurers are aware, see if they’re extending liability automatically and if they are or if they’re not it may be best place to get a clinic policy that is correctly covering your liability risks.
