The US has relatively few laws governing employment and is considered an “at-will” employment country, meaning that employment can be ended by the company or employee at any time. Employment laws continue to grow to provide protection against discrimination and unfair dismissal.

The Department of Labor enforces various labour-related laws, including overtime, unemployment, family leave and discrimination. Although federal law establishes minimum wages and overtime rates, state and local laws often grant more expansive payments.

There are both federal and state laws that protect workers from discrimination. The federal law allows the states to enact discrimination statutes as long as the state law does not provide less protections than federal law. Federal law pre-empts most state statutes that would bar employers from discriminating against employees to prevent them from obtaining pensions or other benefits.

Minimum Wage: The government sets the minimum wage in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This link lists the current and proposed changes to the legislation. The FSLA also sets guidelines for which jobs must be given overtime.

Many states set minimum wages that are in excess of the federal mandated wage. For more information, visit this link.

Workweek:  40 hours.

Overtime: One and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. State and local government employees may receive compensatory time off (compensation time) in lieu of overtime pay.
 
Minimum age for employment: 16 to work in most non-farm employment
18 to work in jobs declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor.
Youths 14-15 may work outside school hours in non-manufacturing jobs or hazardous jobs, under certain conditions.

Probationary period: Not government-mandated. Varies by company and industry, although it is generally six months.