Yes: if you have even one part-time or seasonal employee in Massachusetts, you need workers comp for them. Massachusetts is strict on this. There is no minimum number of employees and no minimum number of hours for regular workers, so a single part-timer working a few shifts a week is enough to trigger the requirement.
Who this is for: Massachusetts owners whose only workers are part-time, seasonal, temporary, or student employees, wondering whether such a small operation really needs coverage.
The short version
- One part-timer counts. Coverage is required from the first employee, full-time or not.
- Seasonal counts too. Summer crews and holiday help must be covered while they work.
- No hours minimum for regular employees. The 16-hour rule applies only to household workers.
- Students and teens count. Age and school status do not create an exemption.
- The cost is small for a small payroll, because premium is based on what you pay.
Part-time, seasonal, and the one real hours exception
| Worker | Must be covered? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time employee (any hours) | Yes | No hours minimum for regular employees |
| Seasonal or temporary employee | Yes | Covered during the season they work |
| Student or teenage worker | Yes | Age and student status do not exempt |
| Household worker (nanny, housekeeper) | Only if 16+ hours a week | The one hours-based exception |
Why the cost is usually small
Because workers comp is priced on payroll, covering a small part-time crew usually costs little. There is a minimum premium, but for a few part-timers in a low-risk business the yearly cost is modest. And because the insurer reviews your real payroll at the end of the year, you are not charged for payroll you did not have. See how pricing works on our Massachusetts cost guide.
A quick Massachusetts example
Illustrative, not a quote. A small ice cream shop in Newton is open May through September and hires four part-time teenagers for the summer. Even though nobody works full-time and the shop is closed half the year, all four must be covered while they work. The owner buys a seasonal workers comp policy for a few hundred dollars. When a scooper slips on the wet floor and sprains an ankle, workers comp pays the clinic visit and a couple of missed shifts, and the owner pays nothing on the claim. Trade detail is on our workers comp for retail and shops page.
Real questions Massachusetts owners ask
I only have one part-time employee in Massachusetts. Do I really need workers comp?
Yes. Massachusetts requires coverage from the first employee, and there is no exception for part-time work. One part-timer, even a few hours a week, triggers the requirement.
What about seasonal workers?
Same rule. Seasonal and temporary employees must be covered while they work for you. A summer-only crew or holiday-season help still needs coverage during the season.
Is there a minimum number of hours before coverage kicks in?
No, not for regular employees. The only hours-based exception is for household workers like a nanny or housekeeper, who must be covered only if they work 16 or more hours a week.
My part-timer is a student working a few shifts. Do they count?
Yes. Age and student status do not exempt an employee in Massachusetts. If you pay them to work for you, they must be covered.
Does it cost a lot to cover one part-time person?
Usually not much. Workers comp is priced on payroll, so a small part-time payroll means a small premium. There is a minimum charge, but covering one part-timer is typically inexpensive, especially for low-risk work.
Can I avoid this by paying them as a 1099?
Almost never. Massachusetts uses a strict test and treats most workers as employees. A part-time worker doing your core work is an employee who must be covered, regardless of how you pay them.
What if I only need someone for one busy month?
They still need coverage for that month. You can adjust coverage as your payroll changes, and the year-end payroll review makes sure you only pay for the payroll you actually had.
Why Massachusetts owners choose Morrow
- We shop the whole Massachusetts market for you. Massachusetts has no state-run insurer, so coverage comes from private carriers, or, if no carrier will take you, from the state's backup option (officially the Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Assigned Risk Pool, run through WCRIBMA, the licensed bureau that administers that pool). We check both so you are not stuck with the first price you are handed.
- 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 Massachusetts guides
Every Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts (start here)
- Massachusetts 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 MA coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost in Massachusetts?
- 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
- Do I need workers comp for 1099 contractors?
- Workers comp for retail and shops
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Massachusetts rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.