In Nevada, part-time and seasonal workers count just like full-time staff, so if you have even one, you need workers compensation. There is no hours minimum and no seasonal exception in the Nevada Industrial Insurance Act, and the requirement kicks in from your very first employee. A worker who puts in a few hours a week is still an employee who has to be covered.
Who this is for: Nevada owners whose only staff are part-time, seasonal, temporary, or on call, and who assumed a small crew or short hours meant no coverage.
The short version
- Part-time and seasonal workers count as employees from the first one.
- There is no hours-per-week floor and no seasonal exception in Nevada.
- Coverage is priced on payroll, so a few part-time hours cost only a little to insure.
- A short, one-off casual job outside your trade can be exempt if it is small enough.
- Skipping coverage for part-timers carries the same penalties as skipping it for full-timers.
Why part-time still counts
Nevada's definition of employee turns on being in your service under a contract of hire, not on how many hours someone works. That means a two-day-a-week cashier, a summer-only helper, and an on-call worker are all employees who trigger the coverage duty. The one narrow exception is truly casual work: a job is casual only if it is both expected to take 20 working days or fewer in a quarter and cost under 500 dollars in total, and it is outside your usual trade. Regular part-time staff do not fit that exception.
| Worker | Counts toward the requirement? |
|---|---|
| Regular part-time employee | Yes, from the first one |
| Seasonal or summer-only worker | Yes |
| On-call or as-needed worker | Yes, while employed |
| One-off casual job under 20 days and 500 dollars, outside your trade | Generally exempt |
| Domestic or household worker, farm labor | Carved out by statute |
The good news on price
Because Nevada workers comp is priced on payroll, a small part-time crew costs far less to insure than a full-time one. The premium tracks the wages you actually pay, and a year-end payroll check trues it up, so you are not charged as if part-timers were full-time. If you overestimate hours you can get money back at audit. That makes covering part-time staff much cheaper than owners expect, and it is far cheaper than the fines and back premiums that come with going uninsured.
A Reno example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Reno retail shop runs with the owner and two part-time clerks who split about 30 hours a week between them. Even though neither clerk is full-time, both are employees, so Nevada requires a policy. Because the premium is based on their modest payroll, the coverage is inexpensive, and the year-end payroll check keeps the price in line with the hours actually worked. See our workers comp for retail stores page.
Real questions Nevada owners ask
Do I need workers comp for part-time employees in Nevada?
Yes. Part-time workers count as employees from the first one. Nevada has no hours minimum, so even a few hours a week means coverage is required.
What about seasonal or summer-only workers?
They count too. Nevada has no seasonal exception, so a summer-only or holiday-season worker is an employee who must be covered while employed.
Is there a number of hours below which I do not need coverage?
No. Nevada does not set an hours-per-week floor. The requirement turns on having an employee, not on how many hours they work.
Is any short job exempt?
Only truly casual work. A job is casual only if it is expected to take 20 working days or fewer in a quarter, cost under 500 dollars total, and fall outside your usual trade. Both parts must be true.
Will covering a couple of part-timers cost a lot?
Usually not. Nevada prices comp on payroll, so a small part-time wage bill means a small premium, and a year-end payroll check trues it up to what you actually paid.
What if I only need someone for a few weeks?
If they are your employee during those weeks, they must be covered. Unless the work fits the narrow casual exception, a short stint still counts.
What is the penalty for not covering part-time staff?
The same as for full-time staff: fines, a possible stop-work order, back premiums for up to six years, and the loss of the shield that stops a direct lawsuit if someone is hurt.
Why Nevada owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Nevada you buy from private insurers on the open market; the state sold off its old fund in 2000, so there is no government fund to buy from. If no carrier will take you, a state-backed pool (the assigned-risk plan) still has to cover you, so we can shop your rate freely and always have a fallback 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 Nevada guides
Every Nevada 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 Nevada (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
- Nevada retail workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Nevada rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.