Employers of any size must understand and be compliant with applicable labor laws. While we won’t go into an exhaustive review of all employment regulations in this article, here are some things to keep in mind.
Regulations that apply to all employers
Employers of all sizes must comply with certain federal laws. These include, but are not limited to:
- Equal Pay Act (EPA), which requires equal pay for equal work
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which governs wages and timekeeping
- Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which requires verification of eligibility to work in the U.S. (I-9s and eVerify)
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which sets minimum standards for employee benefit plans
Employers with 3 or more employees
In addition to the regulations that apply to employers of all sizes, any employer with 3 or more employees is required to provide worker’s compensation insurance benefits, which vary from state to state.
Employers with 10 or more employees
In addition to all of the above, any employer with 10 or more employees must comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
Employers with 15 or more employees
In addition to all of the above, any employer with 15 or more employees must also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects applicants and employees from discrimination based on mental and physical disabilities. The ADA also requires reasonable workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities. Compliance with other anti-discrimination laws such as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is also required.
Employers with 20-49 employees
In addition to all of the above, employers with 20-49 workers are subject to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) laws pertaining to health benefits.
Employers with 50 or more employees
In addition to all of the regulations mentioned so far, once companies reach 50 or more employees, they are subject to provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Employers with 100 or more employees
In addition to all of the above, employers with 100 or more employees have even more legal responsibilities. These include employee protections such as the Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act (WARN) and submitting diversity records.
If you have questions about labor law compliance for your business, MarathonHR is here to help.