Before Starting a Business, Know What Labor Laws Apply to You

Both federal and state guidelines must be adhered to. Which ones apply to your business may depend on several factors. How many people do you employ in total? What is your annual revenue? Where is your business located? If you are considering becoming your own boss, become informed, and avoid pitfalls down the road.

There are a several employment law issues that small business owners need to know about, including:

Minimum Wage: Florida’s minimum wage, for 2014, is $7.94 per hour. Employees receiving tips may be paid a direct wage of a minimum of $4.91 per hour.

Workers’ Compensation: Florida requires employers with four or more employees, whether they are full or part time, to obtain workers’ compensation coverage. If you are the sole proprietor of your business or a partner in your business, you should not count yourself as an employee when making this calculation.

At-Will Work Doctrine: “At-will” is a common law doctrine that means an employer has the right to terminate an employee at any time, for any reason or no reason at all. Florida is an at-will work state. Florida has no general wrongful termination law unless an employment contract specifies reasons for termination, provides for a set employment period or if an employee is a union member.

Child Labor: Minors under the age of 14 may not work in the state of Florida. Children between the ages of 14 and 17 may be employed, with restrictions as to the number of hours they can work and the type of work they can perform. There are some exceptions; for example, a minor under the age of 14 may be employed by a parent or work delivering newspapers.

Breaks: Florida employers are not required to give their adult employees meal or rest breaks during the day. However, if an employee is a minor, they must be given a 30-minute break for every 4 hours of work.