(717) 232-5000
In the State of Pennsylvania, employment is at will, which means that neither employers nor employees need a reason to end the employment contract. However, the reason for terminating an employee’s employment must not cross certain legal boundaries. Ultimately, the law affords employees primary protections. If you have concerns about your rights as an employee, it’s time to consult with an experienced attorney in Lancaster, PA.
Basic Protections
The law, at both the state and federal levels, ensures that essential protections for employees are in place, falling into three primary categories.
Antidiscrimination
Employment law attempts to root out discrimination in the workplace, and there is a wide range of protected classes, including those related to the following:
- Sex, which extends to the sex assigned at birth, sexual characteristics, sexual orientation, and pregnancy and related issues, as well as gender, gender expression, and gender identity
- Race, which includes national origin, traits that are associated with race, like skin color, ethnic characteristics, and interracial marriage
- Disability
- Religion
- Age
Public Policy Violations
Employees are protected from terminations that are based on violations of public policy, and prime examples include the following:
- Participating in jury duty
- Refusing to be polygraphed
- Refusing to submit to unnecessary drug testing
- Filing a legitimate workers’ compensation claim
- Refusing to engage in unlawful or unethical conduct, such as providing federal investigators with false information
- Complying with an order for active duty – for those in the National Guard or a similar form of reserve corps
Wage Law Violations
As an employee in Pennsylvania, you are also entitled to wage protections that relate to minimum wage laws. This includes earning at least the federal minimum wage, currently set at $7.25 per hour. Furthermore, if you work more than 40 hours a week, your employer must pay you overtime wages equal to 1.5 times your hourly rate. While some employees are exempt from overtime rates, their salaries must meet the federal threshold of $58,656, as of January 1, 2025, for this exemption to apply.
As an employee, you are also entitled to timely payment, which means receiving compensation according to a predetermined schedule that includes an established payday. Finally, any overtime earned during a specific pay period must be included in the corresponding paycheck.
Our Dedicated Employment Law Attorneys are Standing By
We’re on your side, and here to help. Our skilled employment law attorneys in Lancaster, PA, are dedicated to utilizing the full scope of our extensive experience and legal expertise to pursue a claim resolution that protects your rights and supports your employment experience moving forward. Please contact us online or call (717) 232-5000 for more information today.