NFIB has created some good resources that summarize federal employment laws. But employers must also pay attention to state laws and municipal laws. Many cities now impose heightened minimum wage requirements, as well as paid sick leave ordinances and other regulatory burdens.
Municipal regulation in particular may be cumbersome for businesses with multiple locations, or mobile employees—like technicians, plumbers, and others who may be sent out to perform services in a customer’s home or at another business. Typically, these municipal ordinances kick-in if the employee has worked over a threshold number of hours within the city. This means employers may need to track the time their employees spend in cities or counties with heightened minimum wage or other such requirements.
State law can also be confusing, with different states imposing different regulatory requirements. For example, only a handful of states require overtime pay after 8 hours, and states vary widely in their meal and rest break requirements. Accordingly, if you have questions about what is required in your state you should either seek out legal advice or look for online resources from state agencies. For example, you can often find “Q & A’s” providing helpful explanations on many of the questions you may be wrestling with when it comes to questions of state employment law.
For more guidance on how to stay out of court, check-out the following:
- Rule 1 – Incorporate;
- Rule 2 – Stay Alert on Taxes;
- Rule 3 – Maintain Adequate Insurance;
- Rule 4 – Hire Smart;
- Rule 5 – Manage Fairly & Wisely;
- Rule 6 – Catch and Correct Wage & Hour Violations;
- Rule 7 – Be Careful with Independent Contractors;
- NFIB Small Business Legal Center’s October 10, 2018 presentation in Salt Lake City, entitled: “10 Ways to Stay Out of Court.”
*While the information provided here is intended to be accurate, it is not legal advice. Employers are advised to seek counsel from a trusted employment law attorney.
