Employment Legislation List: Federal Labor Laws Every Employer Should Know (SwiftSDS)
Keeping up with an employment legislation list can feel like trying to hit a moving target—especially when you’re juggling hiring, payroll, scheduling, performance issues, and day-to-day operations. HR teams and business owners typically aren’t trying to avoid compliance; they’re trying to avoid missed details: a misclassified employee, an overtime calculation error, an outdated workplace notice, or a mishandled leave request that triggers an audit, complaint, or lawsuit.
This pillar page is your practical hub for federal labor law requirements: the core federal employment laws that govern wages, hours, safety, discrimination, organizing rights, leave, and more. It’s designed for employers who want a reliable, readable map of the major federal labor statutes, the rights of work they protect, and what you should do to comply.
For deeper implementation help, SwiftSDS also covers compliance in the workplace and modern options like electronic posters to support distributed and multi-site teams.
Why an “employment legislation list” matters for compliance
An employment legislation list is more than a reference sheet—it’s a risk management tool. Many federal labor laws overlap, and the same event (for example, a termination) can implicate wage-and-hour rules, discrimination standards, recordkeeping, final pay obligations (state), unemployment processes, and benefits notices.
Common pain points employers face
- Unsure which laws apply once you cross a headcount threshold (15, 20, 50 employees, etc.)
- Confusion about worker classification (employee vs. independent contractor; exempt vs. non-exempt)
- Multi-state operations with conflicting or stricter state rules
- Remote employees and how to satisfy required notice/posting rules
- Incomplete documentation and inconsistent practices that create litigation risk
A strong compliance program turns these into repeatable processes—policies, training, postings/notices, documented decisions, and periodic audits.
Federal labor laws at a glance (core categories)
Below is a structured employment legislation list by topic, aligned to the most common compliance workflows.
Wage, hour, and classification laws on jobs
These laws govern minimum wage, overtime, child labor, recordkeeping, and pay practices.
Equal employment opportunity and employee rights
These statutes prohibit discrimination, require accommodations, and restrict retaliation.
Leave and benefits continuation
Federal laws address job-protected leave and access to continued health coverage after qualifying events.
Workplace safety and labor practices
Safety rules and organizing/collective bargaining rights are key pillars of federal worker protections.
Immigration and work authorization
Employers must verify work authorization and avoid discriminatory document practices.
Wage & hour laws: the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the centerpiece of federal wage-and-hour compliance. It regulates:
- Federal minimum wage
- Overtime pay (generally time-and-one-half for hours over 40 in a workweek for non-exempt workers)
- Child labor restrictions
- Recordkeeping requirements
What employers should do (actionable checklist)
- Classify roles correctly as exempt/non-exempt based on duties and salary basis rules (misclassification is a top enforcement issue).
- Define the workweek and ensure overtime is calculated per workweek, not per pay period.
- Track all hours worked (including remote work, travel time where compensable, and pre-/post-shift work when required).
- Audit pay practices like rounding, meal breaks, bonus/commission inclusion in the regular rate, and off-the-clock work.
Required FLSA posting (a common gap)
Employers covered by the FLSA generally must display an FLSA notice. SwiftSDS hosts the official poster versions:
- Employers must display the Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act notice (Wage and Hour Division, U.S. DOL).
- For public employers: Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act – State and Local Government
- For agricultural employers: Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act – Agriculture
- Spanish-language option: Derechos de los Trabajadores Bajo la Ley de Normas Justas de Trabajo (FLSA)
If you have remote workers or multiple sites, review electronic posters as a scalable way to meet notice access expectations.
Worker protections and anti-discrimination: Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and more
Federal worker protections prohibit discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, discipline, and termination, and they require employers to prevent harassment and retaliation.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (EEO)
Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin (generally applies to employers with 15+ employees). It also prohibits retaliation.
Practical compliance moves:
- Maintain written EEO and anti-harassment policies
- Train managers on complaint intake and escalation
- Document performance issues consistently (and compare similarly situated employees)
- Conduct prompt, impartial investigations when concerns arise
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA requires reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities (15+ employees), absent undue hardship.
Practical compliance moves:
- Use an interactive process checklist
- Train supervisors to spot accommodation requests (they’re not always phrased formally)
- Keep medical information confidential and separate from personnel files
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
The ADEA protects workers age 40+ (20+ employees).
Practical compliance moves:
- Review layoffs and reductions-in-force for disparate impact risk
- Use objective selection criteria and preserve documentation
Equal Pay Act (EPA)
The Equal Pay Act requires equal pay for equal work regardless of sex, with limited defenses.
Practical compliance moves:
- Conduct periodic pay equity reviews
- Standardize compensation bands and promotion criteria
For day-to-day implementation structure, see SwiftSDS guidance on compliance in the workplace to reduce inconsistent decisions that create risk.
Family and medical leave: the FMLA (and how it intersects with other rules)
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees of covered employers (generally 50+ employees within 75 miles) up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying reasons (and additional provisions for military caregiver leave).
Practical compliance moves
- Use eligibility and hours-worked checks consistently
- Provide required notices (eligibility, rights/responsibilities, designation)
- Track intermittent leave carefully
- Avoid retaliation: treat leave use as protected activity
Important: Many states expand leave rights beyond federal minimums. If you operate in specific jurisdictions, build a state overlay into your program (see the state example below for Massachusetts).
Workplace safety: OSHA and employer duties
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards and to comply with OSHA standards. Requirements may include:
- Safety training and hazard communication
- Injury/illness recordkeeping (OSHA 300/300A/301 where applicable)
- Reporting severe injuries and fatalities on time
- Anti-retaliation protections for safety complaints
Practical compliance moves
- Conduct routine hazard assessments and document corrective actions
- Keep training logs and inspection records
- Ensure supervisors know how to respond to safety complaints without retaliation
When you build compliance into operations—not just policies—you reduce the likelihood of preventable incidents and enforcement exposure. SwiftSDS covers operational approaches in compliance in the workplace.
Labor practices and organizing rights: the NLRA
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees’ rights to engage in “concerted activity” about wages, hours, and working conditions—whether or not they are unionized.
Practical compliance moves
- Train managers on what they can and cannot say during organizing activity
- Review handbook policies (social media, confidentiality, solicitation) for overbreadth
- Avoid retaliation for protected concerted activity (including group complaints about scheduling or pay)
Even non-union employers are often surprised by NLRA exposure—especially around discipline for employee communications.
Immigration compliance: IRCA and I-9 requirements
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) requires employers to verify identity and work authorization using Form I-9. It also prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status or national origin in the verification process.
Practical compliance moves
- Complete I-9s timely and consistently for all hires
- Avoid requesting extra documents (document abuse)
- Reverify when required, not when prohibited
- Maintain I-9 records in a separate file system for audit readiness
Employee benefits continuation: COBRA (for applicable employers)
COBRA generally requires employers with 20+ employees offering group health plans to provide continuation coverage after qualifying events (termination, reduction in hours, etc.), with strict notice timelines.
Practical compliance moves
- Ensure your plan administrator process sends timely election notices
- Align termination workflows with benefits notifications
- Keep proof of delivery or documented mailing processes
Because COBRA is process-driven, consistency matters as much as intent.
Uniformed services protections: USERRA
USERRA protects job rights for employees who leave for military service and prohibits discrimination based on military status.
Practical compliance moves
- Reinstate eligible employees promptly and correctly (position and seniority rules apply)
- Continue benefits as required and coordinate with plan rules
- Train supervisors to route service-related issues to HR quickly
Background checks and consumer reports: FCRA
If you use a third party to run background checks, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) imposes procedural requirements, including:
- Clear written disclosure
- Written authorization
- Pre-adverse action notice (with copy of report and “Summary of Rights”)
- Adverse action notice after final decision
Practical compliance moves
- Audit your disclosure language (avoid extra liability waivers in the disclosure)
- Standardize timelines and documentation for pre-adverse/adverse action steps
Required notices and postings: don’t overlook “small” compliance requirements
Many federal laws are operationalized through notices and postings. Missing or outdated postings is one of the easiest ways to trigger complaints and enforcement attention—especially when employees are remote or spread across worksites.
- For wage-and-hour, employers commonly must provide access to the official FLSA posting: Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- If your workforce includes Spanish-speaking employees, consider providing: Derechos de los Trabajadores Bajo la Ley de Normas Justas de Trabajo (FLSA).
For organizations with remote teams, review SwiftSDS guidance on electronic posters to maintain continuous access.
Location-specific overlay: states can add stricter employee rights
Federal employment laws set nationwide minimums, but states frequently add broader protections and additional postings. A common compliance failure is assuming federal rules are the ceiling. They’re often the floor.
Example: Massachusetts posting and notice obligations
If you have employees in Massachusetts, you may need additional state notices, such as:
- Massachusetts Wage & Hour Laws
- Fair Employment in Massachusetts
- Notice: Parental Leave in Massachusetts
- Notice to Employees
- For public employees: Massachusetts Workplace Safety and Health Protection for Public Employees
- For staffing/temporary worker contexts: Your Rights under the Massachusetts Temporary Workers Right to Know Law
If you operate in multiple states, treat postings and notices as a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction matrix rather than a single national checklist.
How to use this employment legislation list: a practical compliance workflow
This section turns the “laws list” into an action plan for employers.
1) Build a coverage map (which laws apply to you)
Create a one-page profile that includes:
- Headcount (and whether it meets thresholds: 15/20/50)
- States where employees physically work
- Union presence or concerted activity risk factors
- Industry flags (agriculture, government, staffing, healthcare)
2) Align policies to federal labor statutes
At a minimum, ensure you have current versions of:
- Wage and hour policy (timekeeping, overtime approval, meal/rest rules where state-required)
- Anti-harassment/EEO policy with complaint pathways
- Reasonable accommodation process (ADA)
- Leave administration process (FMLA + state leave)
- Safety program basics (OSHA training, reporting, hazard response)
- Background check workflow (FCRA)
- Discipline and documentation standards
For implementation tips that reduce “policy on paper” failures, use compliance in the workplace as an operational guide.
3) Standardize documentation and training
- Train managers on the high-risk moments: interviewing, discipline, accommodation, leave, pay discussions
- Keep audit-ready documentation for classification decisions, pay rates, and termination rationale
- Schedule recurring internal audits (quarterly or semiannual)
4) Operationalize posting and notice compliance
- Maintain a posting inventory per location and per workforce type (on-site vs. remote)
- Version-control your posters/notices and replace on update
- Consider centralized delivery methods; for distributed workforces, evaluate electronic posters
Key Takeaways
- An employment legislation list is most useful when tied to workflows: hiring, pay, leave, safety, discipline, and separation—not treated as a static reference.
- Core federal labor laws include the FLSA (wage/hour), Title VII/ADA/ADEA/EPA (employee rights and discrimination), FMLA (leave), OSHA (safety), NLRA (labor practices/concerted activity), IRCA (I-9), COBRA, USERRA, and FCRA.
- Posting and notice compliance is a frequent weak spot; ensure employees can access required notices like the official Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act poster (and applicable variants).
- State requirements can exceed federal rules; Massachusetts, for example, adds multiple required notices such as Massachusetts Wage & Hour Laws and Fair Employment in Massachusetts.
- The most effective compliance programs combine: coverage mapping, updated policies, manager training, documentation discipline, and reliable posting delivery—including scalable options like electronic posters.