Do I need workers' comp for one part-time employee in California?

Yes. California requires coverage from your first employee, part-time and seasonal included. Some owners, officers and genuine independent contractors may be excluded. Tell us your setup and we'll check it with you.

How is my California workers' comp premium calculated?

It follows your annual payroll, the class code for the work your employees actually do, and your claims history. A small classification mistake can cost thousands a year. That's the first thing we check.

What happens if I don't carry it?

California can issue a stop-work order and fine you. You can be personally responsible for an injured employee's medical care and lost wages. It's the one coverage we tell owners never to delay.

Workers' Compensation Insurance for California Businesses

For any California employer with at least one employee. State law requires it from the first hire.

Get a Quote Call (951) 383-3000

What's covered

Medical treatment for a work-related injury or illness, with no deductible for your employee
Temporary disability payments while an injured employee can't work
Permanent disability and supplemental job displacement benefits
Employer's liability protection if you're sued over a workplace injury
Death benefits for an employee's dependents after a fatal workplace accident

California is strict about this one. State law requires workers' comp from the moment you have a single employee, part-time included. Going without it isn't a paperwork problem. It can mean stop-work orders, penalties, and personal liability for an injured worker's medical bills.

Workers' comp pays medical treatment and part of the lost wages when someone is hurt on the job. A line cook with a bad burn in Los Angeles. A framer off a ladder in Bakersfield. A stylist with a repetitive-strain injury in San Diego. It protects you too: an employee who accepts comp benefits generally can't sue you over the same injury.

Your premium follows your payroll, your class codes and your claims history. Class codes are where a lot of California owners get overcharged. We've spent 10 years getting small businesses classified correctly. We handle the paperwork in English or Spanish, and we can quote comp with your BOP or commercial auto in one call.

Quick questions

Do I need workers' comp for one part-time employee in California?: Yes. California requires coverage from your first employee, part-time and seasonal included. Some owners, officers and genuine independent contractors may be excluded. Tell us your setup and we'll check it with you.
How is my California workers' comp premium calculated?: It follows your annual payroll, the class code for the work your employees actually do, and your claims history. A small classification mistake can cost thousands a year. That's the first thing we check.
What happens if I don't carry it?: California can issue a stop-work order and fine you. You can be personally responsible for an injured employee's medical care and lost wages. It's the one coverage we tell owners never to delay.

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