Who must carry it in Connecticut
Any employer with one or more employees, including part-time and seasonal workers, must carry workers' compensation.
Who counts as an employee
Employees of any hours count. Sole proprietors and partners are covered only if they elect it. The label on the paycheck does not settle it: Connecticut applies its own employee test, and a worker who fails it is an employee for workers' compensation no matter what the contract says.
Owners, officers and LLC members
Corporate officers and LLC members may exclude themselves by filing with the Commission; sole proprietors and partners may opt in. The election is made on the policy and affects both coverage and premium, so decide it before the policy is bound rather than at audit.
The day you hire
CoverMatch quotes workers' compensation from the first employee, with pay-as-you-go billing through most payroll companies where a carrier offers it, so the policy can start the week you hire without a large deposit. Add the policy to your wallet and the live certificate is ready for the general contractor or client who asks for proof.
If you go without
Uninsured employers face stop-work orders, civil penalties assessed per day, and personal liability for benefits. The specific amounts and procedures are in the statute and on the agency page linked above; they change, and the licensed agent who reviewed this page checks them on each update.