In Ohio, part-time and seasonal workers are employees and count, so a single part-time hire triggers the requirement to carry workers' compensation from the state fund, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC). There is no full-time qualifier in Ohio law and no minimum number of hours before a worker counts.
Who this is for: Ohio employers who staff with part-time, seasonal, temporary, or on-call workers, such as shops, cafes, and businesses with a busy season.
The short version
- One or more employees triggers the mandate, and part-time and seasonal workers count from the first hire.
- Hours do not matter to the requirement; there is no full-time or minimum-hours line to cross.
- A casual or household worker who earns under 160 dollars in cash in a calendar quarter from you is not a statutory employee.
- Premium follows payroll, so a small part-time payroll usually means a smaller BWC premium.
- Coverage comes only from BWC, and you add a private stop-gap employer's liability policy separately.
Why headcount and hours do not create a loophole
Some owners assume part-timers do not count, or that a worker has to reach a certain number of hours first. Ohio does not work that way. Coverage is required from your first employee, and Ohio counts part-time and seasonal workers the same as full-time staff. So a seasonal hiring spike, a roster of weekend part-timers, or a couple of on-call workers all put you under the mandate. The only narrow exclusion is very small casual or household pay.
| Worker | Counts toward the mandate? | Covered if you carry BWC? |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time employee | Yes | Yes |
| Part-time or seasonal employee | Yes | Yes |
| On-call or temporary worker on payroll | Yes | Yes |
| Casual or household worker under 160 dollars per quarter | No | Not a statutory employee |
The cost side of part-time staff
Because BWC premium is based on payroll, a business that runs mostly on part-time wages generally pays less than one with the same headcount working full time. That makes coverage more affordable than owners expect. Going without does not get safer just because the staff are part-time, though. An uninsured injury to a seasonal worker still leaves you as an uninsured employer, and the state can pay the worker and recover the cost from you, which can dwarf a year of premium on a small payroll.
A Columbus example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Columbus cafe staffs up with part-time and seasonal help every holiday season and stays small the rest of the year. The owner assumes the part-timers do not count until they reach full-time hours, but in Ohio they count from the first hire, so the cafe needs BWC coverage. Because premium follows payroll, the small part-time wages keep the cost modest. The owner opens a BWC account, adds a private stop-gap employer's liability policy, and asks us to make sure the cafe payroll is reported under the correct category.
Real questions Ohio owners ask
Do part-time workers need workers comp in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio counts part-time and seasonal workers as employees, so a single part-time hire triggers required coverage from BWC. There is no full-time qualifier and no minimum number of hours.
Is there an hours threshold before a worker counts?
No. Ohio has no minimum-hours line. Coverage is required from your first employee, whether they work forty hours a week or a few hours on weekends, so hours do not create a loophole.
Do seasonal or holiday workers count?
Yes. Seasonal and holiday workers are employees and count from the first hire, so a temporary seasonal crew puts you under the mandate. They are covered through BWC just like year-round staff.
Is any part-time worker exempt in Ohio?
Only a narrow group. A casual or household worker who earns under 160 dollars in cash in a calendar quarter from a single employer is not a statutory employee, so that person does not trigger the mandate.
Does a small part-time payroll cost less to cover?
Usually yes. BWC premium is based on payroll, so a business running mostly on part-time wages generally pays less than one with the same headcount working full time. Coverage is often more affordable than owners expect.
Where do I buy coverage for part-time staff?
Only from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, the state fund. Ohio is monopolistic, so there is no private carrier to shop, and a private policy does not meet the requirement for your Ohio employees.
Is going without safer if my staff are only part-time?
No. An uninsured injury to a part-time or seasonal worker still leaves you as an uninsured employer. The state can pay the worker and recover the cost from you, which can far exceed a year of premium on a small payroll.
Why Ohio owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Ohio, workers' comp is sold only by the state-run Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), so we handle your BWC enrollment and payroll classifications and place the private stop-gap employer's liability and other-states coverage 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 Ohio guides
Every Ohio 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 Ohio (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 costs (national guide)
- Ohio restaurant workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Ohio rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.