Obligatory and voluntary insurance
All employers must take out occupational injury insurance for their employees. Some insurance policies may be mandatory based on the sector in which you operate. Some insurance policies are obligatory (statutory), but most are voluntary.You should spend some time finding out which insurance policies are relevant for your business.
Occupational injury insurance
All employers (i.e. anyone who has someone else working for them) must take out occupational injury insurance for their employees. Occupational injury insurance can be taken out with private insurance companies. The insurance must pay out compensation for injuries and illnesses suffered in connection with work, without any consideration as to whether or not anyone has any blame in the case.
The cover provided by occupational injury insurance policies must include:
- Injury and illness covered by occupational accidents (occupational injuries)
- Illness which is considered to be equivalent to an occupational injury under the National Insurance Act
- Injury and illness due to the effect of harmful substances or work processes
- Compensation as a result of the loss of work capacity and income
- Payments to spouses or cohabiting partners in the event of death
The National Insurance Act on occupational injuries (in Norwegian only)
The business will be entitled to tax deductions for the costs involved, and no employer's National Insurance contributions are payable on occupational injury insurance.
The Occupational Injury Insurance Act (in Norwegian only)
Regulations on standardised compensation (occupational injury) (in Norwegian only)
The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority on occupational injury insurance (in Norwegian only)
Self-employed persons are not automatically entitled to special benefits in the event of an occupational injury or illness
Employees who suffer an occupational injury or illness are entitled to special benefits from the National Insurance scheme. This concerns, for example, pension, health services, sick-pay, disability benefit, children's pension and retirement pension.
However, self-employed persons are not automatically entitled to such benefits in the event of an occupational injury or illness. In order to be entitled to these benefits, self-employed persons and freelancers must take out "voluntary insurance with entitlement to special benefits in the event of occupational injury" with NAV.
Voluntary Occupational Injury Insurance for self-employed persons
As a self-employed person (owner of a sole proprietorship or partner in a general partnership), you are not required to have occupational injury insurance for yourself. However, you can choose to take out occupational injury insurance. Occupational injury insurance is purchased from private insurance companies. The insurance is intended to provide compensation for injuries and illnesses suffered in connection with work, regardless of whether anyone is to blame for the injury. Occupational injury insurance should, among other things, cover:
- Injury and illness caused by a work accident (occupational injury)
- Illness that is equated with occupational injury under the National Insurance Scheme
- Injury and illness caused by exposure to harmful substances or work processes
- Compensation for loss of work ability and income
- Payment to spouse or cohabitant in case of death
Voluntary sick-pay insurance for self-employed persons
Self-employed persons who do not have sick-pay insurance are entitled to sick-pay with 80 percent coverage of the sick-pay basis from the 17th day of sick leave. As a self-employed person, you can insure yourself with NAV in order to obtain better sick-pay cover. There are three different types of insurance cover.
NAV on sick-pay insurance for self-employed persons (in Norwegian only)
To apply for sick-pay insurance for self-employed persons, fill in the form entitled "Søknad fra selvstendig næringsdrivende om opptak/endring i forsikring for tillegg til sykepenger" (Application from self-employed person for registration/change in insurance for supplement for sick pay - in Norwegian only).
Voluntary sick-pay insurance for freelancers
Freelancers without sick-pay insurance are entitled to sick-pay with 100 percent coverage of the sick-pay basis from the 17th day of sick leave. As a freelancer, you can insure yourself with NAV in order to obtain 100 percent sick-pay cover from the first day of sick leave. To apply for sick-pay insurance, fill in the form entitled "Søknad fra selvstendig næringsdrivende om opptak/endring i forsikring for tillegg til sykepenger" (Application from self-employed person for registration/change in insurance for supplement for sick pay - in Norwegian only).
NAV on sick-pay insurance for freelancers (in Norwegian only)
Small enterprises and voluntary insurance against liability for sick-pay during the employer's period
As an employer, you can insure yourself against any liability for sick-pay during the employer's period (the employer's period is normally the first 16 days of illness). It is a condition that total salary payments during the previous year do not exceed 40 G (the National Insurance basic amount). In order to apply for this, you must complete the form entitled "Forsikring mot ansvar for sykepenger i arbeidsgiverperioden for små bedrifter" (Insurance against liability for sick-pay during the employer's period for small enterprises - in Norwegian only).
Liability insurance
Anyone who runs a business should consider getting liability insurance.
For example, if you accidentally damage a customer's property while working on their site, having liability insurance would be beneficial. Contact an insurance company for more information and quotes.
Other insurance
Other types of voluntary insurance which may be relevant include property insurance, third party liability insurance, sick-pay insurance, personal insurance, accident insurance, transport insurance and insurance against IT crime. Contact a number of insurance companies and ask for quotes.
