What are the employment laws in Pennsylvania that a business owner should know about?

As a business owner in Pennsylvania, it is important to be familiar with the various employment laws that apply to your business. Some of the key employment laws in Pennsylvania include:

1. Minimum wage and overtime laws: Pennsylvania's minimum wage is currently set at $7.25 per hour, which is the same as the federal minimum wage. However, certain cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have set their own minimum wage rates that are higher. In Pennsylvania, non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek, at a rate of 1.5 times their regular pay rate.
2. Anti-discrimination laws: Pennsylvania has a number of laws that protect employees from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or genetics. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee or job applicant on any of these grounds.
3. Workers' compensation laws: Pennsylvania requires most employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, which provides benefits to employees who are injured on the job. If an employee is injured on the job, they are entitled to medical treatment, wage loss benefits, and other benefits.
4. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Federal law (which applies in Pennsylvania) requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. This includes things like the birth or adoption of a child, caring for a family member with a serious medical condition, or the employee's own serious medical condition.
5. Paid sick leave laws: Philadelphia has a paid sick leave law that requires employers with 10 or more employees to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year to eligible employees. Pittsburgh is in the process of enacting a similar law.

It is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list of all employment laws in Pennsylvania, and there may be other laws that apply to your business. Additionally, there may be exceptions or limitations to some of these laws depending on your particular situation. For example, small businesses may be exempt from certain employment laws, and certain employees may be exempt from overtime pay requirements. So if you have specific questions or concerns about which laws apply to your business or employees, you should consult with an experienced employment law attorney.