If you have employees working remotely, whether in Indiana or across state lines, you probably still need workers compensation, and where they work decides which state's coverage applies. Indiana requires coverage for employees whose work is based here, and a remote worker at a kitchen table in Indianapolis counts just as much as one in your office. An injury at home during work is still a work injury.
Who this is for: Indiana owners with remote, hybrid, or traveling staff, including tech and professional firms, and businesses based elsewhere that have a worker living or working in Indiana.
The short version
- Remote employees still need coverage; working from home does not remove the requirement.
- Where the employee actually works usually decides which state's coverage applies.
- An Indiana-based remote worker generally needs Indiana on the policy.
- If you are based out of state with a worker in Indiana, you usually need Indiana coverage for them.
- Coverage can follow an Indiana employee who travels out of state for the work.
Where the work happens is what matters
Workers comp is state-based, so the key question is where an employee performs their job, not where your office sits. An employee who lives and works in Indiana is generally covered under Indiana rules, even if the company is headquartered elsewhere and the person never comes to a physical worksite. Indiana law also follows the Indiana employment relationship when a covered employee travels, so an injury on a work trip to another state can still be an Indiana claim. The practical rule is to list every state where your employees regularly work on the policy, so a remote worker is never sitting in a coverage gap.
| Situation | Which coverage you need |
|---|---|
| Employee lives and works in Indiana | Indiana coverage on the policy |
| Out-of-state company, worker based in Indiana | Usually Indiana coverage for that worker |
| Indiana employee travels out of state for work | Indiana coverage generally follows them |
| Worker splits time across states | List each state where they regularly work |
Home offices and coverage gaps
A home office does not shrink your obligations. If a remote employee is hurt while doing their job at home, during work time and in the course of their duties, that is generally a claim workers comp will pay, so they need to be covered just like an on-site worker. The trap is a multi-state team where a worker lives in a state your policy does not list, which can leave that person outside coverage and leave you exposed to a claim and to penalties in their state. When your team is spread out, tell us where everyone actually works, and we make sure each state is on the policy or written separately.
A Fishers example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Fishers software company employs eight people, five in the office and three fully remote, one of whom recently moved to another state. The five in-office and the two remote Indiana employees are covered under the Indiana policy. The employee who moved out of state now works from there, so we add that state to the policy so the worker is not in a gap. When one Indiana employee travels to a conference and twists a knee, the claim is handled under the Indiana policy. See our workers comp for technology firms page.
Real questions Indiana owners ask
Do I need workers comp for remote employees in Indiana?
Yes. Working from home does not remove the requirement. A remote employee based in Indiana generally needs Indiana coverage, and an injury while working at home is usually covered.
Which state's coverage applies to a remote worker?
Usually the state where the employee actually performs their work. Someone living and working in Indiana is generally covered under Indiana rules, even if your company is based somewhere else.
I am based out of state with one worker in Indiana. Do I need Indiana coverage?
Generally yes. If that worker mainly performs their job in Indiana, you usually need Indiana listed on the policy so the claim is actually covered here. We can add Indiana or write a separate policy.
What if my Indiana employee travels out of state for work?
Indiana coverage generally follows the Indiana employment relationship, so a work injury on a trip to another state can still be handled as an Indiana claim. Listing travel states avoids any dispute.
Is an injury at a home office really covered?
Usually, if it happens during work time and in the course of the job. A home office is treated much like any worksite, so a remote employee should be covered the same as an on-site one.
What is the risk with a multi-state remote team?
A worker living in a state your policy does not list can fall into a coverage gap, leaving you exposed to their claim and to penalties in that state. List every state where employees regularly work.
Do independent remote contractors need to be covered?
Only if they are really employees. Indiana looks at who controls the work, not the location or the 1099. A remote worker you direct and schedule can be an employee you must cover.
Why Indiana owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Indiana you buy workers comp on the open, competitive market from any private insurer licensed in the state, because there is no state fund, and if no carrier will take you the state's assigned risk plan is the guaranteed backstop, so we can shop your rate freely and still have a fallback for hard-to-place work.
- We catch pricing mistakes. Your price depends heavily on the category your work falls into for pricing (the class code). Put people in the wrong category and you overpay for years. We review your payroll and classifications before you buy.
- Proof of coverage, fast. Need a certificate (proof of coverage) for a general contractor or a landlord before Monday? We turn those around the same business day for most carriers.
- We help lower the score that drives your price. Insurers give you a score based on your past claims that raises or lowers your cost (the experience modification rate). We review it each year, flag errors, and connect you with return-to-work and safety resources that bring it down.
- Real people when a claim happens. When someone gets hurt, we stay involved through the life of the claim, not just at renewal.
Related Indiana guides
Every Indiana business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in Indiana (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- How do I get workers comp (even if turned down)?
- What insurance do I need for a contractor license?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- What workers comp does not cover
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- Indiana tech workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Indiana rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Worker's Compensation Board of Indiana or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.