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Frequently Asked Questions -

My company has 20 employees. Which laws apply to us?

The following table lists the major Federal employment laws. Other laws or regulations that are not listed may impact your business. Often state and local laws cover smaller employers who are not covered by federal law. For example, Massachusetts Law requires employers to provide a 31 day extension of health, dental, and some forms of disability coverage to employees and families of employees who leave their job for any reason. Massachusetts law also requires continuation of group health care coverage similar to COBRA for employers of 2 - 19 employees. Also, be aware that these statutes are frequently amended.

LAW	EMPLOYERS COVERED	SUMMARY
Age Discrimination in Employment Act	Employers with 20 or more employees	Prohibits discrimination against persons 40 or older
Americans with Disabilities Act	Employers with 15 or more employees	Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and requires public areas to be usable and accessible to disabled persons
Civil Rights Act of 1866	All employers	Bars discrimination based on race
Civil Rights Act of 1871	All employers	Bars individuals from violating the federal rights of others
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)	Employers with 15 or more employees	Bars employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, or national origin
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)	Employers with 20 or more employees	Requires employers to offer continued health insurance
Employee Retirement Income Security Act	All employers who sponsor pension or retirement plans	Dictates rules regarding plan participation, contribution, funding, and reporting
Equal Pay Act	All employers	Bars wage discrimination based on gender
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)t	All Health plans with 50 or more participants or administered by third party	Protects employees privacy by securing individually identifiable health information (IIHI)
Fair Labor Standards Act	All employers	Establishes minimum wage, overtime, and child labor laws
Family and Medical Leave Act	Employers with 50 or more employees	Requires unpaid, job protected leave up to 12 weeks per year
Immigration Reform and Control Act	Employers with 3 or more employees	Bars discrimination based on national origin or citizenship status and prohibits employment of illegal aliens
National Labor Relations Act	All employers	Governs union organizing and collective bargaining
Occupational Safety and Health Act	All employers	Requires safety and health standards to avoid illness, harm, or death
Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)	All employers	Provides employment and health insurance rights to members of uniformed services

Any information provided by this site is for informational purposes only and no warrants are made as to legality or appropriateness. All information should be reviewed by the dealer's counsel.