Does workers' comp cover seasonal and temp jobs?
Yes. California law requires almost every employer to carry workers' compensation insurance, and that coverage starts the moment you clock in, not after 30 or 90 days. It does not matter if you were hired for six weeks to handle the holiday rush, if you work part time, or if you were sent to the job by a staffing or temp agency. If the work relationship is "employment," the coverage applies. Labor Code section 3700 requires employers to carry this insurance, and section 3351 defines "employee" broadly enough to include most seasonal and agency workers.
Many warehouse and retail workers assume that because the job is short term, they do not have the same rights as full time staff. That is not true. You are entitled to medical treatment for a work injury, and you may qualify for wage replacement benefits if you cannot work, regardless of how long you have been on the job or how many hours a week you work.
This article is general information about California workers' compensation, not legal advice about your situation. Every case is different.
Yazdchi Law, P.C. — Eman Yazdchi, responsible attorney. Office: Palmdale, California. Attorney advertising.