This guide explains exactly what the law typically requires, what the cover does, and how to ensure your pub is properly protected. Our companion guide to what happens if you don't have pub insurance covers the consequences of trading uninsured, and our overview of what pub insurance is explains how employers' liability fits alongside other covers in a typical pub policy.
The Legal Requirement for Employers' Liability Insurance
Employers' liability insurance is a statutory requirement under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. The legislation typically requires employers carrying on business in Great Britain to hold a valid employers' liability policy from an authorised insurer. For a useful comparison, see our guide to employers' liability for office businesses.
Which Pub Employees Typically Need Cover?
All direct employees of the pub company must be covered under employers' liability insurance. This is a statutory requirement, and there are no exemptions based on hours worked or length of service.
- Full-time bar, kitchen and cellar staff
- Part-time and zero-hours workers
- Casual and seasonal staff during peak periods
- Glass collectors, cleaners and door staff (where directly employed)
- Trainees, apprentices and family members working in the business
What Does Employers' Liability Insurance Cover for Pubs?
The policy responds to compensation claims and legal costs where an employee suffers injury or illness in connection with their work and the pub is found legally liable. Typical claims include burns from kitchen equipment, slips on wet flooring behind the bar, cuts from glassware, and musculoskeletal injuries from cellar work.
Penalties for Not Having Employers' Liability Insurance
The Health and Safety Executive can fine a business £2,500 for every day it operates without valid employers' liability insurance in place. For a pub that has been trading for months or years without cover, accumulated fines can be substantial - and the pub remains personally liable for any employee injury claim that arises during that period.
How Much Employers' Liability Cover Do Pubs Need?
The statutory minimum is £5 million. In practice, almost all UK insurers provide £10 million as standard, which is the level most lease, pubco and regulatory requirements specify. Your wage roll and staff numbers feed directly into pub insurance pricing.
Common Employers' Liability Claims in Pub Businesses
Burns from fryers, grills and steam; slips on wet bar and cellar floors; manual handling injuries from moving kegs; lacerations from broken glass; and stress or assault claims linked to incidents involving customers.
Employers' Liability vs Public Liability for Pubs
Public liability covers claims brought by third parties - customers, visitors, delivery drivers - for injury or property damage. It is not a statutory requirement but is generally advisable for any pub. A pub business needs both, typically arranged together as part of a comprehensive pub insurance package.
How to Arrange Employers' Liability Insurance for a Pub
See our guide to the information needed to get pub insurance. Insurers will typically request:
- Total number of employees (full and part-time)
- Whether you use zero-hours or casual workers
- The nature of the roles covered - kitchen, bar, cellar, security
- Your annual wage roll
If an employee injury claim is later disputed by your insurer, our guide on handling a denied pub insurance claim sets out your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is employers' liability insurance a legal requirement for pubs?
Yes. Any pub with one or more employees is typically required by law to hold employers' liability insurance under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.
What happens if I don't have employers' liability insurance for my pub?
The HSE can fine your business £2,500 per day, and you remain personally liable for any employee injury claim. See our guide to what happens without pub insurance for the full consequences.
Does employers' liability insurance cover agency staff?
Where agency staff are working under your direction, you should treat them as employees for cover purposes. Confirm the position with your broker.
How much employers' liability insurance does a pub need?
The statutory minimum is £5 million. £10 million is standard and is typically specified by leases, pubco agreements and most insurers.
Can I arrange employers' liability insurance separately from the rest of my pub insurance?
Yes, but it is more practical and often more cost-effective to arrange it as part of a comprehensive pub insurance package through a specialist broker.
