Who’s an Employer? In the past week, I’ve had occasion to talk to several HR professionals about how the number of employees can define whether various employment laws apply, and that just a few employees either way can make a big difference, particularly for small employers. Pay attention to the following shortlist, particularly if you have turnover and frequent changes in the number in your workforce. Remember that how part time employees are counted also changes from statute to statute. There may also be exemptions from coverage for certain industries like agriculture.
Total Number of Employees: Subject to the following employment laws:
- All employers regardless of size . . . . . . OSHA, Equal Pay Act (EPA), Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)
- You have 4 or more employees . . . . . . Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Lancaster County Human Relations Ordinance
- You have 15 or more employees . . . . . . Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- You have 20 or more employees . . . . . . Age Discrimination in Employment Act, COBRA
- You have 50 or more employees . . . . . . Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- You have 100 or more employees . . . . . . Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
The above is a partial list of statutes and law that apply to employers in Pennsylvania. For more information federal discrimination laws, consult the EEOC website.