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How to Customise Your Employers Liability Insurance Plan to Suit Your Business Needs
June 4, 2025
6:41 PM
Avoid duplicating the same policy. Own it
Purchasing an off-the-shelf standard employers liability insurance policy is a common mistake made by the vast majority of companies operating in the UAE. What protects a construction company in Dubai might not be relevant to a tech company in Abu Dhabi. Your industry, the size of your team, and the risks involved in your daily operations should all be considered. Rather than emulating others, spend time determining your own risk profile. If you have outside consultants or brokers, rely on them to customise the policy according to your business structure.
Understand what really needs coverage:
Undoubtedly, coverage for bodily injury, illness, or death resulting from workplace conditions is essential. But what about legal defence costs if an employee sues? Or mental health claims tied to stress from on-the-job pressures? If your business has employees who work remotely, experience regular travel, or face high-pressure atmospheres, you should have a policy that matches those factors. And don’t limit yourself to the obvious — the fine print matters, particularly in a legal environment like that of the UAE, which is both changing and regulated.
Get proactive with your insurer. Yes, you can negotiate.
Mention insurance, and even the most sophisticated consumers consider it to be a take-it-or-leave-it product. Not true. A trusted advisory platform in the UAE will assist you in adjusting the terms based on your number of employees, their job roles, and the safety measures in place.
For example, if you’ve spent a lot of money on workplace safety training or wellness programmes, you should say so. They could lower your premium or increase your coverage. The more you share, the better the plan will reflect your business and the easier it will be to drive.
Be Flexible
The market in the UAE is fast paced; one day you are a team of 15, and the next you are hiring 30. Don’t keep your policy frozen in time. Employers liability insurance continues to increase with your practice. Regular check-ins, ideally twice annually, are vital. Have your risks increased due to taking on new contracts or operating in a new facility? Has your workforce undergone any changes? Reacting to insurance isn’t just unsafe; it’s cost-prohibitive.
Communicate Relevantly
Employers liability insurance is often considered a standard product. HR approves the policy, stores it in a drawer, and leaves the employers unaware. This represents a lost opportunity. When your people know what protection there are, then trust comes. Please provide a briefing during onboarding, ensure documents are accessible, and conduct regular Q&A sessions. Ultimately, the focus should not only be on risk mitigation but also on ensuring peace of mind.
Conclusion
Tailoring an employers liability policy in the UAE isn’t a matter of just compliance but a decision of leadership. The very best policies are those that are designed around your people, not off-the-shelf policy templates.
