Do employers have to pay workers’ compensation for seasonal employees?

Is workers' compensation for seasonal employees necessary or not? This is a question that has plagued a lot of businesses over the past few years. The reason is simple, hiring seasonal employees is very important, since they can be a major asset. 

Some seasons can be very busy, so getting extra seasonal workers makes a lot of sense. These temporary employees can help immensely. The fact that they work part time or seasonally makes it easy for your business to have those extra helping hands when needed. But you have to wonder, is it mandatory to pay workers comp for them or not?

How does workers compensation work for seasonal workers?

Workers compensation insurance covers the medical bills, and it also covers things like partial lost wages that follow a workplace injury. Instead, it also helps protect any business owners from legal costs, in case an employee sues over the injury. It’s important to note that seasonal workers can be a business risk.

Why are seasonal workers a risk? One of the main issues is that they don’t have a lot of experience and training, which can end up being a problem. On top of that, they move too fast to cope with the work requirements, despite not having a lot of knowledge and expertise. Something like this can have its fair share of issues. 

There are also schedule disruptions. Many seasonal workers will have more than a single job. Thanks to workers' compensation insurance, it’s possible to cover all expenses in case a seasonal worker is injured. That means less business risks and more focus on getting the right results.

Workers compensation insurance state requirements

Most states require you to offer workers compensation benefits to your employees, be it seasonal or not. If you don’t, then you can face a fine which varies based on state. 

There are situations where the business owner can go to jail for up to 6 months due to not having the right workers compensation insurance. Which is why getting the right workers compensation coverage from insurance companies is extremely important and the right thing to do.

Protecting your business via workers comp 

Here are some key pointers that can help you reduce risk upon hiring seasonal workers:

Ideally, you want to perform background checks

Ask for referrals

Write a comprehensive job description showing off exactly what you need. 

However, the right approach is to work closely with a professional employer organization. 

A PEO will handle all the comprehensive HR services for employers, while also helping you figure out the right workers' compensation and any other similar tasks. 

You can also save time knowing that the PEO can help you find the best seasonal workers. This is the best way to ensure that you have amazing results and a great experience. You’ll have all the compliance assistance, workers compensation benefits, recruiting and many other tasks handled by vetted experts with a lot of experience in the industry. 

What does California Law state about workers' comp for Seasonal Employees?

According to the Californian Law, all employers from California need to have worker’s compensation. That’s valid regardless of the number of workers, be it 1 or 100+. Seasonal workers need to have worker’s compensation. This way they get to have all the worker’s compensation benefits, regardless of their injury type, if they get hurt, sick, etc.

If you’re looking for a great PEO that can help you manage worker’s compensation for seasonal workers, while also staying compliant with legal requirements, then MartinoWest is here to help. Our commitment is to quality and professionalism, and you can rely on us to offer the best solutions and experience. Contact us today for more information and assistance!