State of Pennsylvania Labor Laws

I find that employers and employees alike are often interested in knowing more about the labor laws that may apply to them. If you live or work in Pennsylvania, here’s a quick overview of a few of the labor laws in your state:

When it comes to laws about payment of wages, there are a number of regulations. The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is automatically tied to the federal minimum wage, so it’s currently $5.15 per hour. If at some point Congress raises the federal minimum wage, the Pennsylvania wage will go up along with it. Under the Pennsylvania labor law, wages must be paid on a regular basis, but there is no particular mandatory maximum length between paydays. Employees who are separated from their jobs for any reason must be paid by the next regular payday.

Child labor regulations are another important part of the Pennsylvania labor laws. Minors under 18 must obtain an employment certificate in order to work in the state. The hours of employment and types of work that may be performed are regulated separately for minors under 16, and 16 and 17 year old minors. A special permit is required for minors who are involved in motion picture or theatrical performance work. A meal break of 30 minutes is also required for all minors working five or more consecutive hours.

Pennsylvania workers should be glad to know that they are covered by a variety of occupational safety and health statutes. The Pennsylvania labor laws contain a variety of standards designed to maintain a safe, healthful and hazard-free workplace. Standards exist to regulate all kinds of workplace hazards, from hazardous chemicals to ladders and power equipment. Employers may be inspected and fined if they do not meet these standards.

These are just a few of the many topics covered under the Pennsylvania labor laws. Other areas of the law include workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, prevailing wages for employees on public works construction projects, the licensing of employment agencies, and more. For a thorough and up-to-date listing of all the state and federal labor laws, check out the Pennsylvania Complete Labor Law Poster.

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