Overview
The Office of the Advocate for Business is the liaison between New York’s business community and the Workers’ Compensation Board, giving employers one place to contact for answers to their questions about workers’ compensation, disability benefits and Paid Family Leave.
The Advocate for Business:
- Works with employers (particularly small business), business associations and employer groups to hear, report and offer solutions to issues they’ve been unable to resolve elsewhere;
- Assists businesses with insurance coverage problems and compliance with the Workers’ Compensation Law; and
- Educates employers and government personnel on their responsibilities and how the New York State workers’ compensation system works.
New! Introducing Anthony Tomaselli, the Board's new Advocate for Business (3/2/23)
Free Webinar Sessions
The Advocate for Business has been hosting monthly webinars to educate business owners/employers on the basics of the workers' compensation system, including insurance types, coverage requirements, and employers' obligations under the law.
Each one-hour session also covers:
- Who does and does not need coverage.
- How and when to report an injury or illness (including COVID-19).
- Considerations when hiring independent contractors, laborers, and domestic workers.
- Tips for lowering premiums.
- Penalties and where to go for assistance with them.
Sessions are free and there is time at the end for questions. Registration is required. To register for an upcoming session, visit the Webinars for Employers page.
Don’t want to wait? You can watch this recording of our September 6, 2023 webinar:
Ask the Advocate
In this ongoing feature, the Board's Advocate for Business addresses timely and/or frequently asked questions from business owners and employers.
Featured Q&A:
New! Dear Advocate: I employ a domestic worker. Do I need workers’ compensation insurance? Do I need disability insurance? What about Paid Family Leave?
Watch this short video, or read on:
That depends on how many hours they work. If it’s 20 or more, you’ll need coverage for disability and Paid Family Leave. If it’s 40 or more, you’ll need workers’ compensation coverage as well.
Domestic workers include: au pairs, babysitters, butlers, chauffeurs, companions, cooks, gardeners in a private household, home health aides, housekeepers, laundry workers, maids, nannies and nurses.
When you employ domestic workers, check to see if you have a valid policy or are exempt from this requirement. If you are required to have this coverage, and don’t have it, there may be penalties imposed.
If you’re having difficulty or need assistance, you can call 518-486-3331 or email: advocatebusiness@wcb.ny.gov.
Do you have a question for the Advocate for Business?
Check out past Q&As Ask a Question
Contact the Advocate for Business
You can contact the Advocate for Business for general information, assistance with a workers’ compensation, disability benefits or Paid Family Leave question or issue, or to schedule educational session.
- Phone: (518) 486-3331
- Email: advocatebusiness@wcb.ny.gov
Please be prepared with the following information:
- Complete corporate name
- Contact person name, phone number and email address
- Insurer and policy number
- Federal employer identification number or WCB employer number
- Brief description of request or the problem and any correspondence received.
Resources
- Protecting Yourself and Your Team: Coverage Essentials for Businesses - September 2023: Video
- What Business Owners Need to Know - October 2022: Video
- What Business Owners Need to Know - June 2022: Video
- What Business Owners Need to Know - December 2021: Video
- What Business Owners Must Know about Workers’ Compensation