The following list does not include all federal and Minnesota employment laws, but it does provide a snapshot view of how many employees an employer must have in order to be covered by these most significant laws. Remember, however, that coverage for some of the laws also depends on requirements other than the number of employees. If the number places your business on the borderline, consult further for an explanation of those other requirements.
Minimum Employees | Law | Notes | Topic |
1 | Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) | Very restricted use | |
1 | Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) - including child labor | Wages and hours | |
1 | Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act | Amount of minimum wage dependent on size of employer's business | Wages and hours |
1 | Federal new hire reporting requirements | The law does not currently provide minimum number of employees for coverage | Recruiting and hiring |
1 | Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) | Immigration | |
1 | Unemployment Compensation Law | Unemployment compensation | |
1 | Workers' Compensation Law | Workers' compensation | |
1 | Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) | Public employer | Family and medical leave |
1 | Minnesota Human Rights Act | Discrimination | |
1 | Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance | Effective for employees that work within Minneapolis city limits | Wages and hours |
2 | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) | Health insurance portability and privacy | |
15 | Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Discrimination | |
15 | Americans with Disabilities Act | Discrimination | |
20 | Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) | Discrimination | |
20 | Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) | Group health plan participants | Health insurance continuation coverage |
50 | Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) | Private employer | Family and medical leave |
100 | Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) | Plant closings, mass layoffs and reductions in force |