Employment Law Overview

Lisa McCormack
Image: hands of two women with open law book

As an employer, it’s important to understand which employment laws apply to your company based on the number of employees you have. The chart below helps you understand your compliance requirements for many topics; others may apply also – such as additional laws for federal contractors (e.g., Drug Free Workplace Act).

Other useful resources include:

California Laws

Law/Requirement All 2 or more 4 or more 5 or more 15 or more 20 or more 25 or more 50 or more 75 or more 100 or more
AB1396 Written Sales Commission Plans X X X X X X X X X X
AB1825 Sexual Harassment Training X X X
Bone Marrow and Organ Donor Leave  X X X X X X
CAL-COBRA X X X X X
Add’l reqs.		 X X X X
California Family Rights Act (CFRA) X X X
Civil Air Patrol Leave X X X X X X
Crime Victims Leave X X X X X X X X X X
Disability Insurance X X X X X X X X X X
Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Leave X X X X X X X X X X
Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Leave – Treatment X X X X
Employee Safety X X X X X X X X X X
Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) X X X X X X X
Independent Contractor Reporting X X X X X X X X X X
Jury Duty or Witness Leave X X X X X X X X X X
Kin Care Leave X X X X X X X X X X
Lactation Accommodation X X X X X X X X X X
Literacy Leave X X X X
Military Spouse Leave X X X X
New Hire Reporting X X X X X X X X X X
Paid Family Leave (PFL) X X X X X X X X X X
Posters and Notices X X X X X X X X X X
Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL)
School Attendance Leave X X X X X X X X X X
School Activities X X X X
Sick Leave X X X X X X X X X X
Smoking in the Workplace X X X X X X X X X X
Unemployment Insurance X X X X X X X X X X
Volunteer Civil Services Leave X X X X X X X X X X
Volunteer Firefighter Training X X X
Wage Theft Protection Act X X X X X X X X X X
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) X X
Workers’ Compensation X X X X X X X X X X

Federal Laws

Law/Requirement All 2 or more 4 or more 5 or more 15 or more 20 or more 25 or more 50 or more 75 or more 100 or more
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) X X X X X
Affirmative Action X X X
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) X X X X X X
Child Labor X X X X X X X X X X
COBRA X X X X X
EEO-1 Reporting See link for details on who must file
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) X X X X X X X X X X
Equal Pay Act X X X X X X X X X X
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) X X X X X X X X X X
Executive Order 11246 X X X X X X
Fair Credit Reporting Act X X X X X X X X X X
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) X X X X X X X X X X
Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) X X X
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) X X X X X X
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) X X X X X X X X X X
Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) X X X X X X X X X X
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act X X X X X X X X X X
National Origin Discrimination X X X X X X
Occupational Safety and Health Act X X X X X X X X X X
Posters and Notices X X X X X X X X X X
Pregnancy Discrimination X X X X X X
Race and Color Discrimination X X X X X X
Rehabilitation Act X X X X X X
Religious Discrimination X X X X X X
Retaliation X X X X X X X X X X
Sex-Based Discrimination and Harassment X X X X X X
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991 X X X X X X
Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA) X X X X X X X X X X
Wages and Hours X X X X X X X X X X
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) X

Note: The above/attached information is not legal advice. It should not be considered a legal opinion as to which laws apply or as to how any law applies to a particular situation. Companies or individuals should seek advice of counsel with regards to their particular situation. 

One thought on “Employment Law Overview”

  1. Pingback: Employees vs. Independent Contractors: What You Need to Know as Your Business Grows | Coast Women in Business

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