Employee Rights
Legal Information
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Employee Rights in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Downloadable Forms from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Links to downloadable forms from the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Workforce Development System
The Commonwealth Workforce Development System (CWDS) is an Internet-based system of services for use by customers and potential customers of the PA CareerLink® offices. CWDS provides online access to job openings; information about employers; services and training opportunities for job seekers; and labor market information. All of this is available by enrolling on-line with CWDS.
How to Assert Your Rights in the Workplace
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on how to assert your rights in the workplace.
Returning to Work During Coronavirus
Answers to some frequently asked questions from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia about returning to work following a shutdown during the COVID-19 crisis.
Getting Fired
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association about being separated from your employment.
Know Your Employment Rights
Fact sheet from MidPenn Legal Services outlining the basic rights all employees have at their workplace. [PDF] (February 2014)
Know Your Employment Rights!
Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on employment rights including wages, unemployment compensation, family and medical leave, discrimination, workplace injuries, and unions. (January 2014)
Pennsylvania Employment Law Information (Audio-MP3)
Episode of Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" Radio show broadcast on JET 1400 AM in Erie, PA on 5/31/07. information on PA Employment Law such as wage cases and barriers to employment such as a criminal record. (28:08)
Temporary Jobs - When on Unemployment Compensation Benefits
Information from Northwestern Legal Services on how temporary employment can affect the receipt of unemployment compensation benefit.
Overcoming Barriers to Employment
Information from MidPenn Legal Services discussing barriers to employment, specifically mental health issues and interview questions
Employment Discrimination
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on discrimination in the workplace.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on sexual harassment in on the job.
Workers with Disabilities
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association about the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act for workers with disabilities
Wages and Hours
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on wage and hour issues including how to file a complaint.
Employment At Will
Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia about your right to have and keep a job.
Immigrant Workers’ Rights and COVID-19
Information on the rights of immigrant workers relating to COVID-19.
Legal Help for LGBTQ+ Individuals
Community Legal Services (CLS) provides free legal assistance in civil matters for low-income residents of Philadelphia. We are strong advocates for our clients, including LGBTQ+ individuals, when they face the threat of losing their homes, incomes, health care, and even their families. We work on many legal issues including eviction, mortgage foreclosure, criminal record expungements, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and other public benefits, SSI, employment, utilities, and housing problems for people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.
Need Health Insurance and Not Working in Your Prior Job? Act Now!
If you are not working because you are on leave, on layoff, or have lost your job, you should look at the following options for health care for yourself and your family. You should secure coverage within 60 DAYS of when you lose coverage through your employer, or you will lose the opportunity to get affordable benefits through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace until the end of the year.
PhillyWorkersRights.org
All Philadelphia workers, including immigrants and low-wage workers, have legal rights at work. Community Legal Services of Philadelphia launched PhillyWorkersRights.org, a website providing workers with information about their rights, how to assert them, and how to get help if they need it.
Know Your Rights: Pregnant and Breastfeeding Workers in Pennsylvania
Information from the Women's Law Project about the rights of workers who are pregnant, have given birth and are producing breast milk. (March 2018)
Firing
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on an employee's rights upon being fired from a job. (February 2019)
Harassment
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on the offense of Harassment.
Sexual Harassment
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on sexual harassment in the workplace.
Workers' Compensation
Information on Workers' Compensation benefits from the Erie County Bar Association. (February 2019)
Workers' Compensation
Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. [PDF] (November 2012)
Collaborative Law
Consumer legal information brochure from the Pennsylvania Bar Association on Collaborative Law, a dispute resolution process that is an alternative to litigation. Rev. 1/13 [PDF]
Know Your Rights at Work
This booklet from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General outlines the rights a worker has in the workplace and how to get help if you are experiencing an unlawful work-related issue.
Background Checks - Tips For Job Applicants and Employees
Some employers check into your background before deciding whether to hire you or keep you on the job. This booklet from the Federal Trade Commission explains your legal rights regarding a background check under federal law. [PDF] (November 2016)
Background Checks: What Job Applicants and Employees Should Know
Some employers look into your background before deciding whether to hire you, or before deciding whether you can keep your job. When they do, you have legal rights. This publication from the Federal Trade Commission explains the laws that protect you, and how to contact the FTC and EEOC if you think an employer has broken the law. [PDF]
EEOC Publications
Listing of publications from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on a variety of subjects relating to equal employment opportunity and employment discrimination.
Federal Laws Prohibiting Job Discrimination - Questions And Answers
Information from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on the federal laws covering job discrimination and what discriminatory practices are prohibited by these laws.
A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment
Find answers to questions about employment rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act in this A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment from the U.S. Department of Justice. Webpage and PDF Version. (October 2000)
Portability of Health Coverage (HIPAA)
Information from the United States Department of Labor on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This law provides rights and protections for participants and beneficiaries in group health plans. It includes protections for coverage under group health plans that limit exclusions for preexisting conditions; prohibit discrimination against employees and dependents based on their health status; and allow a special opportunity to enroll in a new plan to individuals in certain circumstances. HIPAA may also give you a right to purchase individual coverage if you have no group health plan coverage available, and have exhausted COBRA or other continuation coverage.
Continuation of Health Coverage - COBRA
Information from the United States Department of Labor about the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), a federal program that provides the right to continued health care coverage for people who lose their benefits under certain circumstances.
General Wage & Hour Questions
Frequently asked questions from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry on wage & hour requirements in Pennsylvania.
If You Are A Farm Worker
Booklet from Social Security which provides farm workers with information about how Social Security can help you and your family, the importance of your Social Security number, how your boss reports your earnings, and how to make sure your earnings are reported correctly. (June 2021)
Employee Retirement Income Security Act - ERISA
The United States Department of Labor provides this introduction to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established pension and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.
Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act
Information on the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry including links to the full text of the law.
Employment Laws: Disability & Discrimination
Information from the U.S. Department of Labor about the five important federal laws that protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in employment and the job application process.
Downloadable Forms from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Links to downloadable forms from the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
Job Loss - Important Information Workers Need To Know To Protect Their Health Coverage and Retirement Benefits
This fact sheet focuses on job loss, its effect on workers’ health benefits and retirement benefits, and how these laws impact workers’ rights. When facing job loss or a reduction in hours, you need to know your options ahead of time to prevent loss of health coverage. There may be several options available to individuals who are losing their health coverage when they lose their jobs.
Retirement Plans-Benefits & Savings
Information from the United States Department of Labor regarding retirement plans offered by your employer.
Termination
If you've lost your job, you have certain rights, such as the right to continue your health care coverage and, in some cases, the right to unemployment compensation. Here is information from the U.S. Department of Labor about your rights when you are terminated from your employment.
Tools That Teach: What is Human Trafficking? (Video)
This video from the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign helps answer the question "What is Human Trafficking? "
Youth Rules!
This website from the United States Department of Labor provides information on the laws relating to workers under the age of 18.
National Employment Law Project
Website of the National Employment Law Project. The Project works to promote policies and programs that create good jobs, strengthen upward mobility, enforce hard-won worker rights, and help unemployed workers regain their economic footing through improved benefits and services.
Trans Youth Handbook
The Trans Youth Handbook serves as a comprehensive legal resource guide that covers the rights of trans youth across a wide spectrum of situations, including identity documents, school, health care, non-affirming care environments, and work.