Compliance Corner
For those who employ domestic workers in Maryland, when does state law say workers’ compensation coverage needs to kick in? Thanks to Simply Research, we found out.
Covered Employees
An individual who is employed as a domestic worker in a private home is a covered employee with respect to a household if the individual earns at least $1,000 in cash in a calendar quarter from that household.
An individual and the employer of the individual may elect to make the individual a covered employee by filing a joint election with the Commission, if the individual:
(i) is employed as a domestic worker in a private home; and
(ii) would not be a covered employee with respect to a household because the individual earns less than $1,000 in cash in a calendar quarter from that household.
Whose Right is It?
The right to make an election for an individual may be exercised by:
(i) an individual who is at least 16 years old; or
(ii) a parent or guardian of an individual who is less than 16 years old.
Opt-in Provision
For an individual who is not a covered employee, an employer may not make an election under this subsection if prohibited by federal law.

