If your Pennsylvania partnership has even one employee, yes, the partnership needs workers compensation for that person from their first day. The general partners themselves are left out of the requirement by default, so a partnership whose only workers are its partners generally is not required to carry it, though partners can choose to add themselves.
Who this is for: the partners in a Pennsylvania general partnership, meaning a business owned by two or more people who have not formed a corporation. A partner is an owner of the business, and Pennsylvania treats partners much like sole proprietors: out of the coverage rule by default, but able to opt in.
The short version
- Partners are out by default: general partners are excluded from the coverage requirement unless they choose to be added.
- Employees are in: any non-partner worker must be covered from the first hire.
- No headcount minimum: one part-time or seasonal employee triggers the rule.
- Partners can opt in: a partner who wants coverage elects in through the insurer.
- Personal exposure: partners are personally responsible for the partnership's obligations, so an uninsured injury can reach them personally.
Partners versus employees
The key line in a partnership is between the partners, who own the business, and the people the partnership hires. Partners are excluded from the workers comp requirement the same way sole proprietors are, and a partner's own injury is not paid by a policy bought for the staff unless that partner has elected in. Employees are a different story: every worker who is not a partner must be covered from day one, whether they are full-time, part-time, seasonal, or a family member on the payroll.
| Who is working | Coverage required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Partners only, no employees | Not required | General partners are excluded by default |
| Partnership with any employee | Required | Coverage starts with the first non-partner hire |
| A part-time or seasonal worker | Required | No hours minimum applies |
| A family member on the payroll | Required | A spouse or child working for pay counts |
| A partner who wants coverage | Optional | Elect in through the insurer to protect that partner |
Why partners often buy it anyway
Even without employees, many Pennsylvania partnerships carry a policy. Clients and general contractors frequently require proof of coverage before work can start, and being uninsured can push their insurer to charge them for your payroll. Coverage also protects the partners personally, because a partner is on the hook for the partnership's debts and a serious work injury with no policy behind it can reach personal finances. Electing the partners in, or buying an owners-only policy, both protects the partners and produces the proof clients want.
A quick Pennsylvania example
Illustrative, not a quote. Two friends run a bookkeeping partnership in Lancaster with one part-time assistant. The assistant must be covered from the first day, even at limited hours, so the partnership buys a policy. The two partners are excluded by default, but they elect themselves in as well. A year later one partner develops a repetitive-strain injury in her wrist that a doctor ties to her work. Because she had elected in, the policy helps with treatment and lost time. Had the partners left themselves out, that cost would have landed on them directly, on top of their personal responsibility for the business.
Real questions Pennsylvania owners ask
We're a two-person partnership in Pennsylvania with no employees. Do we need workers comp?
No, not for the partners. Pennsylvania excludes general partners from the requirement by default. You can still choose to elect in and cover yourselves, and many partnerships do to satisfy clients.
What if we hire an assistant?
Then you must carry coverage for that assistant from their first day, even if they are part-time or seasonal. There is no hours minimum in Pennsylvania for employees.
Can a partner be covered under the policy?
Yes. Partners are excluded by default but can elect in through the insurer. Once elected, a partner's own on-the-job injuries are covered and that partner's pay counts toward the premium.
Are partners automatically covered if we buy a policy for staff?
No. A policy bought for employees does not cover the partners unless each partner has elected to be included. Without that election, a partner's work injury is not paid.
Are we personally liable if we skip coverage?
Yes. Partners are personally responsible for the partnership's obligations, so an uninsured work injury or a penalty for going without coverage can reach your personal assets.
A client wants proof of coverage before we start. What do they need?
They want a certificate showing an active workers comp policy. Even a partnership with no employees may need to buy a policy, or elect the partners in, to produce that proof.
Does adding a partner raise the price?
Usually yes. When a partner elects in, that partner's pay is added to the payroll the premium is based on, so the cost goes up in exchange for protecting that partner.
Why Pennsylvania owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. Pennsylvania is an open, competitive market: you can buy coverage from any private insurer licensed in the state or from the state-run State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF), and Morrow shops multiple carriers to find the best fit instead of leaving you with a single option.
- 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 Pennsylvania guides
Every Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania (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 nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I 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)
- Do sole proprietors need workers comp?
- What workers comp does not cover
- Accountant and bookkeeper workers comp in Pennsylvania
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Pennsylvania rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Workers' Compensation or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.