Mississippi

All Employers with 5 or more employees must carry workers compensation insurance. If you have less than 5 employees it is not required, but is strongly recommended because even if your state does not require workers compensation it does not relieve you of the responsibility of a job-related injury or death. Another option in many states is self-insuring your company to cover the costs from employee injuries or death, whether this is a good idea depends on your business and the financial state of your company.

Exemption forms are available for owners that control 15% or more of a company. In addition, domestic, farm labor, and any staff of non-profit fraternal, charitable, religious, or cultural groups are not required as well as federal employees and some transportation/maritime employees that are covered by federal compensation laws.

You need to be sure to acquire proof of coverage from your sub or independent contractor just because they are not an employee does not relieve you of the responsibility should they get injured.

If an individual is found to have made any false or misleading statement or representation of workers compensation coverage, they are considered guilty of a felony and can be fined a maximum of $5,000 or double the value of the fraud (whichever is greater) or they can be imprisoned a maximum of three years or both.