Call-out to DFW commercial photographers

[JohnT]

I've been tapped by a lighting company to do a shoot of a lighting installation in a hotel in downtown Dallas. However, I might be dropped from this assignment since I cannot provide a certificate of workers comp. insurance to the hotel management. If you shoot commercially and would be able to provide one of these certificates, please PM me. I'd like to be prepared to recommend another photographer, as a courtesy to the lighting company, in case I'm dropped.

[srwatters]

Are you a sole proprietor? Do you have any employees? If not, I see no reason why you must provide workers compensation insurance. If you are hiring sub-contractors independently, then it might be an issue...

I'll send a PM with my recommendation.

[JohnT]

That's what I thought too. It would be just me doing the shoot, no assistant or anything. I still need to talk to the PR woman so we'll see.

[Bo Morrell]

I have worker's comp, and if I hire an electrician or plumber or such I am required to provide my insurance company a copy of their w/c policy or pay my insurance company as though he worked for me. I don't know how this would apply to a sole proprietor.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

IF you have a policy through Hill & Usher then you are, most likely, covered. Just get them a copy of your policy.

- Wil

[doctahjones]

I'm wondering if maybe the hotel was confused and wanted to make sure you had general libality incase you wreck the building while you're shooting?

[KdLaneJr]

After I read the OP earlier, I checked Texas Workers Comp laws online. The law states that workers comp is optional. Where it got interesting was on a non-govt law site that stated Texas work comp laws let the employer choose between providing workers comp insurance or being subject to civil lawsuit. So that sort of explained the "optional" part of the law.

This leads me to believe that what the Hotel wants you to prove, is that you have workers comp insurance for yourself so that hiring you does not make them subject to civil lawsuit if you get hurt on the job.

Just a guess on my part. Curious to know what you find out from the PR woman.

[ldelacruz]

A lot of companies ask for more than they need because it is their standard policy. I would let them know that I do not have employees therefore do not need workmans comp insurance.

2 things you can ask.
Ask to sign a waiver since you are self employed without employees.
Work under the lighting company and let them bill the Hotel.

It has worked for me in the past.

Originally Posted by JohnT

I've been tapped by a lighting company to do a shoot of a lighting installation in a hotel in downtown Dallas. However, I might be dropped from this assignment since I cannot provide a certificate of workers comp. insurance to the hotel management. If you shoot commercially and would be able to provide one of these certificates, please PM me. I'd like to be prepared to recommend another photographer, as a courtesy to the lighting company, in case I'm dropped.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

A lot of companies ask for more than they need because it is their standard policy. I would let them know that I do not have employees therefore do not need workmans comp insurance.

2 things you can ask.
Ask to sign a waiver since you are self employed without employees.
Work under the lighting company and let them bill the Hotel.

It has worked for me in the past.

Thanks, Lonnie. I will be working for the lighting company (they're the ones hiring me), but the hotel has told the company PR woman that they want me to have WCI. I got the hotel general manager's phone number so I'll be calling and discussing this with him. The waiver sounds like a good idea.