In Arkansas, part-time and seasonal workers count toward the size trigger that requires workers compensation, and so do volunteers. There is no minimum number of hours that keeps a worker off the count, so three regular part-timers can make coverage just as mandatory as three full-timers for an ordinary business (Arkansas Code section 11-9-102). Remember the trigger itself changes with the work: three general, two for building work, one in a subcontracting chain.
Who this is for: Arkansas owners with part-time, seasonal, or variable staff who are trying to figure out whether they have crossed the coverage trigger.
The short version
- Part-time workers count. Arkansas counts regular part-time employees toward the trigger, the same as full-timers.
- Volunteers count too. Arkansas even counts a volunteer toward the number that triggers coverage.
- 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 regular worker from the count.
- A true one-off casual helper is different. Casual work that is not part of your regular business generally does not count.
What counts and what does not
| Worker | Counts toward the trigger? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular part-time employee | Yes | No hours minimum for the count |
| Weekend-only worker | Yes | A regular schedule counts |
| Seasonal worker you rehire | Usually yes | Counted while employed in season |
| Volunteer | Yes | Arkansas counts volunteers toward the number |
| A one-time casual helper | No | Outside your regular business |
The seasonal trap
Seasonal businesses cross the line without noticing. A landscaping crew that runs two people most of the year but jumps to five for the spring rush is over the trigger during that season and needs coverage then. Because this is often outdoor and physical work, the exposure is real. 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 Arkansas.
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. Arkansas counts the people, not the hours, so three regular part-timers put you over the trigger for an ordinary business, and volunteers count too. 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 Bentonville example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Bentonville retail shop runs with one full-time manager and two part-timers who work steady weekend and evening shifts. That is three regular employees, so Arkansas requires coverage even though two 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 Arkansas owners ask
Do part-time employees count toward workers comp in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas counts regular part-time employees toward the coverage trigger, the same as full-timers. Three regular part-timers can make coverage mandatory for an ordinary business.
Do volunteers really count in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas counts a volunteer toward the number that triggers coverage, which surprises many owners. The Commission's own form lists volunteers among those counted toward the trigger.
Is there an hours minimum before a worker counts?
No. Arkansas 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 trigger?
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 over the trigger only part of the year.
Can I stay under the requirement by limiting hours?
No. Because Arkansas counts people rather than hours, cutting everyone's hours does not remove them from the count. Three regular part-time employees still triggers coverage for an ordinary business.
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.
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 Arkansas owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Arkansas you buy workers comp on the open market from any private insurer licensed in the state, because Arkansas has no state fund, and if no carrier will take you the assigned risk plan run by the rating organization NCCI, the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Insurance Plan, is the guaranteed backstop, so we can shop your rate freely and still cover 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 Arkansas guides
Every Arkansas 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 Arkansas (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
- Arkansas retail workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Arkansas rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.