What Is a Florida Workers' Comp Stop Work Order?
Florida Division of Workers Compensation Stop Work Order — What It Is, Who Gets Them, and How to Avoid One
A stop work order (SWO) is an official order issued by the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) that requires an employer to immediately cease all business operations. Unlike a typical citation that allows you to continue working while you pay a fine, a stop work order is immediate and total — you must stop all work the moment the order is served.
Stop work orders are issued when a DWC investigator finds that an employer is operating without required workers' compensation coverage. Investigators conduct random job site audits, respond to complaints, and check employers at construction sites, farms, trucking operations, and other workplaces.
The Financial Penalties
Florida Stop Work Order Penalties — 2x Premium Calculation, $1,000 Per Day Per Employee, and Personal Liability
⚠️ Florida Stop Work Order Penalties
- • Penalty equal to 2x the premium that should have been paid for the entire period of non-compliance (can go back years)
- • $1,000 per day per employee while operating without coverage
- • Minimum penalty of $1,000 even for first-time violations with few employees
- • Personal liability for all medical expenses and lost wages of any injured workers during the uninsured period
The "2x premium" penalty is calculated by the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) based on the premium that should have been paid for the entire period the employer operated without coverage — not just the current policy period. For example, a Florida roofing contractor with 10 employees operating without coverage for 3 years at the 2026 FWCJUA rate of $6.752 per $100 payroll and $300,000 annual payroll would owe approximately $60,768 in unpaid premiums, doubled to $121,536 in penalties — before any injury claims. Under Florida Statute 440.107, these penalties are mandatory and cannot be waived.
How to Get a Stop Work Order Lifted
How to Get a Florida Workers Comp Stop Work Order Lifted — Same-Day Coverage, COI Submission, Penalty Payment, Order of Conditional Release
To get a Florida workers' comp stop work order lifted, you must complete all four steps in order. Comp Ninjas specializes in the first and most critical step — obtaining active coverage the same business day so the DWC process can begin immediately.
- Obtain workers' compensation coverage immediately. The Florida DWC will not lift the stop work order until you have active coverage. Comp Ninjas can get Florida employers covered the same business day in most cases — including high-risk industries like construction, roofing, and towing that standard carriers decline.
- Provide proof of coverage to the DWC. Submit your Certificate of Insurance (COI) to the DWC investigator who issued the stop work order, or to the Florida DWC's compliance office. Comp Ninjas issues the COI the same day coverage is bound — so you can submit proof to the DWC immediately.
- Pay the penalty or enter a payment agreement. The DWC will calculate your penalty and require payment or a signed payment agreement before lifting the order.
- Receive the Order of Conditional Release. Once coverage is confirmed and penalty arrangements are made, the DWC issues an Order of Conditional Release that allows you to resume operations.
How to Prevent a Stop Work Order
How to Prevent a Florida Workers Comp Stop Work Order — Continuous Coverage, COI Currency, Subcontractor Verification
Florida Statute 440.107 — Stop Work Order Authority and Penalty Calculation Rules
The only way to prevent a stop work order is to maintain active, valid workers' compensation coverage at all times. This means:
- Never letting your policy lapse for non-payment
- Keeping your Certificate of Insurance current and accessible
- Verifying that any subcontractors you hire also have valid coverage
- Renewing corporate officer exemptions before they expire
Comp Ninjas' pay-as-you-go PEO program makes it easy for Florida employers to maintain continuous workers' compensation coverage. Because Comp Ninjas calculates premiums on actual payroll each period, there are no large bills that cause coverage lapses. Comp Ninjas covers high-risk industries that standard carriers decline — including construction, roofing, towing, staffing, and agriculture — so Florida employers always have a path to coverage. Comp Ninjas' bilingual team (English and Spanish) is available to help Florida employers understand their coverage status and obligations under Florida Statute 440.107.