workmen's compensation insurance
C2Formal, Legal, Business, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A type of insurance that employers buy to cover the costs of injuries or illnesses employees suffer at work.
A mandatory statutory system (often called 'workers' compensation' in modern usage) where employers provide fixed monetary awards to employees for work-related injuries or illnesses, regardless of fault, in exchange for relinquishing the employee's right to sue.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term 'workmen's' is now considered outdated and gender-specific. In modern legal and business contexts, 'workers' compensation insurance' is the preferred term. The phrase refers to the entire system, not just the insurance policy itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'workmen's compensation' is archaic in both. The UK equivalent is 'Employers' Liability (Compulsory) Insurance' or simply 'Employers' Liability Insurance'. In the US, 'workers' compensation insurance' or 'workers' comp' is standard.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'workmen's compensation' sounds dated and formal. The US 'workers' comp' is widely recognized and informal. The UK's 'Employers' Liability' is the precise legal term.
Frequency
The exact phrase 'workmen's compensation insurance' is very rare in contemporary use. The modern equivalents ('workers' comp', 'Employers' Liability') are high-frequency terms in their respective business/legal domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The company [verb: purchased/obtained/secured] workmen's compensation insurance.The [noun: employee/worker] received benefits through workmen's compensation insurance.The law [verb: mandates/requires] workmen's compensation insurance for employers.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be on comp (slang, derived from 'compensation')”
- “To go through the comp system”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
All new businesses must secure workmen's compensation insurance before hiring their first employee.
Academic
The evolution of workmen's compensation insurance in the early 20th century represented a major shift in social welfare policy.
Everyday
If I get hurt at work, I hope the workmen's compensation insurance covers my medical bills. (Note: 'workers' comp' would be more common in everyday speech)
Technical
The experience modification factor directly impacts the premium for workmen's compensation insurance based on past claim history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The workmen's compensation insurance policy was reviewed annually.
- They faced a workmen's compensation insurance claim after the accident.
American English
- The workmen's compensation insurance requirements vary by state.
- He navigated the workmen's compensation insurance process with a lawyer.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His company has workmen's compensation insurance for all employees.
- The contractor was fined for failing to provide adequate workmen's compensation insurance for his team.
- After the fall, he filed a claim under the company's workmen's compensation insurance.
- The intricacies of workmen's compensation insurance law can be daunting for small business owners.
- Premiums for workmen's compensation insurance are calculated based on the employer's payroll and industry risk classification.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine WORKMEN (workers) getting COMPENSATION (payment) for injuries, and the INSURANCE that pays for it. Link the three parts: Workers -> Paid -> Insured.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSURANCE IS A SAFETY NET (It catches you when you fall/injure yourself at work).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct word-for-word translation ('страхование компенсации рабочих').
- Do not confuse with 'medical insurance' or 'social insurance' (медицинское страхование, социальное страхование).
- The Russian conceptual equivalent is 'страхование от несчастных случаев на производстве' or, in the social system context, 'обязательное социальное страхование от несчастных случаев на производстве'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'workman's' (singular) instead of 'workmen's' (plural possessive).
- Omitting the possessive apostrophe ('workmens').
- Using it as a verb ('The company will workmen's compensate him').
- Confusing it with disability or unemployment insurance.
Practice
Quiz
What is the modern, gender-neutral term most commonly replacing 'workmen's compensation insurance'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. It is an outdated, gender-specific term. 'Workers' compensation insurance' (US) or 'Employers' Liability Insurance' (UK) are the modern equivalents.
The employer is solely responsible for purchasing and paying the premiums for this insurance. It is a mandatory cost of doing business with employees.
It typically covers medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and disability benefits for employees injured or made ill due to their job.
Generally, no. This insurance is part of a 'no-fault' system. In exchange for guaranteed benefits, employees usually give up the right to sue their employer for negligence related to the workplace injury.