In Alabama, part-time and seasonal workers generally count toward the five-employee threshold that triggers workers compensation (Alabama Code section 25-5-50). There is no minimum number of hours that keeps a worker off the count, so five regular part-timers can make coverage just as mandatory as five full-timers.
Who this is for: Alabama owners with part-time, seasonal, or variable staff who are trying to figure out whether they have crossed the five-employee line.
The short version
- Part-time workers count. Alabama counts regular part-time employees toward the five, the same as full-timers.
- Seasonal workers usually count. If you regularly staff up for a season, those workers generally count while they are employed.
- Hours do not decide it. There is no weekly-hours minimum that removes a worker from the count.
- Once covered, they are covered from day one. A part-timer hurt on their first shift is still a workers comp claim.
- A true one-off helper is different. Casual work outside your regular business generally does not count.
What counts and what does not
| Worker | Counts toward the five? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular part-time employee | Yes | No hours minimum for the count |
| Weekend-only worker | Yes | Regular schedule counts |
| Seasonal worker you rehire | Usually yes | Counted while employed in season |
| A one-time casual helper | No | Outside your usual business |
| An unpaid volunteer | Usually no | Not a paid employee |
The seasonal trap
Seasonal businesses cross the line without noticing. A landscaping crew that runs three people most of the year but jumps to six for the spring rush is a five-plus employer during that season and needs coverage then. The safe move is to have a policy in place before you staff up, because an injury during the busy weeks is exactly when you are most exposed. A policy that adjusts to your actual payroll, sometimes called pay-as-you-go, fits seasonal swings well. See how to get a policy in Alabama.
You cannot split hours to dodge it
Owners sometimes ask whether keeping everyone under a certain number of hours avoids the requirement. It does not. Alabama counts the people, not the hours, so five regular part-timers put you over the line. Trying to structure around the count is the kind of thing that surfaces in a claim or an audit and leaves you worse off than if you had simply covered the crew.
A Dothan example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Dothan retail shop runs with two full-time staff and three part-timers who work steady weekend and evening shifts. That is five regular employees, so Alabama requires coverage even though three are part-time. The owner puts a policy in place, and when a part-timer trips carrying stock, comp handles the medical bills instead of the injury becoming a lawsuit. We rate the payroll on the right kind of work so the price reflects the actual risk. See the trade detail on our workers comp for retail stores page.
Real questions Alabama owners ask
Do part-time employees count toward workers comp in Alabama?
Yes. Alabama generally counts regular part-time employees toward the five-employee threshold, the same as full-timers. Five regular part-timers can make coverage mandatory.
Is there an hours minimum before a worker counts?
No. Alabama counts the people who regularly work for you, not their weekly hours. A steady weekend or evening worker counts even if they work only a few hours a week.
Do seasonal workers count toward the five?
Usually yes while they are employed. If you regularly staff up for a season, those seasonal workers generally count during that time, so a business can be a five-plus employer only part of the year.
Can I stay under the requirement by limiting hours?
No. Because Alabama counts people rather than hours, cutting everyone's hours does not remove them from the count. Five regular part-time employees still triggers coverage.
Is a part-timer covered from their first shift?
Yes, once your business is subject to the Act. A part-time worker hurt on day one is a workers comp claim, so put coverage in place before they start, not after.
Does a one-time casual helper count?
Generally no. Truly casual work that is outside your regular business is not counted the way a regular part-time role is. If you are unsure, the Alabama Department of Labor can confirm.
What kind of policy fits a seasonal crew?
A policy that adjusts to your actual payroll, sometimes called pay-as-you-go, fits seasonal swings well because you pay based on real wages rather than a flat estimate. We can set that up for you.
Why Alabama owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Alabama you buy workers comp on the open market from any private insurer licensed in the state, because Alabama has no state fund, and if no carrier will take you the NCCI-run assigned risk plan is the guaranteed fallback, so we can shop your rate freely and still have a backstop 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 Alabama guides
Every Alabama 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 Alabama (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?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- 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)
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- What workers comp does not cover
- Alabama retail workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Alabama rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with Alabama Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.