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.
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.
Downloadable Forms from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Links to downloadable forms from the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
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)
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]
Child Labor Act Protections For Young Workers
Pennsylvania's Child Labor Act, enforced by L&I's Bureau of Labor Law Compliance, protects the health, safety, and welfare of minors employed in the commonwealth by limiting employment in certain establishments, restricting the hours of work, regulating work conditions, and requiring work permits for children hired to fill a position.
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.
Downloadable Forms from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Links to downloadable forms from the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
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.
Employee Retirement Income Security Act - ERISA
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.
Employer Background Checks and Your Rights
If you’re applying for a job or a promotion, an employer might run a background check. Federal law and some state laws give you rights when this happens. Employers must get your written permission before running a background check from a background reporting company. You have the right to say no, but if you do, you may not get the job.
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.
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.
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)
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. (November 2016)
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.
Know Your Rights: Child Labor (Video)
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has developed the “Know Your Rights” video series in English and Spanish to provide workers with useful basic information in different scenarios that workers encounter in the workplace. This video explains how wage laws apply to young workers.
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.
Portability of Health Coverage (HIPAA)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides rights and protections for participants and beneficiaries in group health plans. HIPAA includes protections for coverage under group health plans that 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.
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.
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.