Yes, if your North Dakota workers are part-time or seasonal, you still need workers compensation, and you buy it from the state fund, Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI). North Dakota sets no minimum hours and no headcount floor, so a single part-time worker triggers coverage before their first shift. The good news is that your cost tracks the wages you actually pay, so a part-timer with a small paycheck generally costs less to cover than a full-timer, subject to a minimum premium.
Who this is for: North Dakota owners whose only staff are part-time, seasonal, temporary, or on-call workers.
The short version
- Part-time and seasonal workers are covered from day one; there is no minimum-hours exception.
- Even one part-time worker means you must open a WSI account and report wages.
- Premium is a share of the wages you pay, so a smaller payroll generally means a smaller premium.
- A minimum premium of 250 dollars per period applies even if your payroll is very small.
- You pay the full premium and cannot deduct any part of it from a worker's pay.
Why part-time does not mean exempt
Some owners assume a worker has to hit a certain number of hours, or that seasonal help does not count. North Dakota does not work that way. The mandate turns on whether someone is a covered employee, not on how many hours they work, so a weekend-only helper, a summer crew member, and an on-call fill-in all count from their first shift. What does scale is your cost, because North Dakota bases premium on the wages you report in each work category. You report those wages to WSI, and a part-timer's smaller paycheck usually means a smaller premium, though a very small payroll can still land at the minimum premium of 250 dollars per period.
How the payroll system treats part-timers
| Worker | Covered? | How premium works |
|---|---|---|
| One part-time worker | Yes, from day one | You report their actual wages; premium reflects that pay |
| Seasonal or on-call staff | Yes | Reported for the periods they work; no coverage gap for the busy season |
| A very small payroll | Yes | A 250 dollar minimum premium per period can apply even when wages are low |
Keeping it simple and accurate
The two things that keep a small, part-time crew correct are reporting the right work category and reporting wages accurately. Rates vary a lot by the kind of work someone does, so putting a worker in the wrong category can mean overpaying or underpaying. Reporting each worker's actual wages means you pay for what you use and are not surprised at audit. And since the state fund pays a hurt worker's benefits but does not defend a lawsuit, adding stop-gap employers liability to your general liability policy is worth doing even for a small part-time team.
A Mandan example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Mandan retail shop is open weekends with three part-time clerks, none working more than 20 hours a week. Even though nobody is full-time, North Dakota requires coverage before their first shift, so the owner opens a WSI account and reports the clerks' wages. Because premium is a share of payroll, the shop's cost stays modest, though a slow season could still hit the 250 dollar minimum. The owner pays the whole premium and cannot pass any of it to the clerks. See our workers comp for retail stores page.
Real questions North Dakota owners ask
Do I need workers comp for part-time employees in North Dakota?
Yes. North Dakota has no part-time or minimum-hours exception, so a part-time worker is covered from day one. You open a WSI account and report their wages like any other worker.
What about seasonal or on-call staff?
They are covered too. North Dakota counts seasonal, temporary, and on-call workers from their first shift. You report their wages for the periods they actually work, with no gap for a busy season.
Does a part-timer cost less to cover?
Generally yes. North Dakota bases premium on the wages you pay, so a worker with a small paycheck usually generates less premium than a full-timer in the same work category, subject to a minimum.
Is there a minimum premium in North Dakota?
Yes. WSI charges a minimum premium of 250 dollars per period, so a very small part-time payroll can still land at that floor even if the wages alone would compute to less.
Can I deduct part of the premium from a part-timer's pay?
No. In North Dakota the employer pays the whole premium, and deducting any part of it from a worker's wages is illegal, whether the worker is part-time or full-time.
Where do I buy the coverage?
Only from the state fund, Workforce Safety and Insurance, known as WSI. North Dakota does not allow private workers comp carriers, so you open a WSI account and report wages rather than shopping.
Does the state policy defend me if a part-timer sues?
No. WSI pays a hurt worker's benefits but does not provide a legal defense. Adding stop-gap employers liability to your general liability policy covers that defense even for a small crew.
Why North Dakota owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In North Dakota, workers compensation is sold only through the state fund at Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI), with no private carriers to shop, so we help you open and run your WSI account correctly and place the stop-gap employers liability and other business coverages the state fund does not include.
- 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 North Dakota guides
Every North Dakota 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 North Dakota (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
- North Dakota retail workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. North Dakota rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.