{"id":4693,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:40","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/employment-and-anti-discrimination-laws-an-introduction.html"},"modified":"2026-10-12T11:41:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T16:41:38","slug":"employment-and-anti-discrimination-laws-an-introduction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/employment-and-anti-discrimination-laws-an-introduction.html","title":{"rendered":"What Are Federal Employment and Anti-Discrimination Laws? Employer Rules and Employee Thresholds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Are Federal Employment and Anti-Discrimination Laws? Employer Rules and Employee Thresholds<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Federal employment and anti-discrimination laws<\/span> govern the employer-employee relationship. These laws set standards for fair pay and prohibit workplace discrimination based on\u00a0protected characteristics<\/span>\u00a0such as race<\/span>, age, sex<\/span>, or disability.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As a small business owner, your legal obligations grow as your company does. Understanding which rules apply at each stage is essential to staying compliant and avoiding costly legal issues. This guide breaks down the major federal employment laws<\/span> by employee count. Remember that state and local laws may offer even greater protections for workers. Visit FindLaw’s Small Business Discrimination and Harassment<\/span><\/a> page for more information on anti-discrimination laws<\/span>.<\/p>\n

When You Hire Your First Employee (1+ Employees)<\/h2>\n

From the moment you hire your first employee, several key federal laws<\/span> immediately apply to your business.<\/p>\n

Fair Labor Standards Act<\/span> (FLSA<\/span>)<\/h3>\n

The Fair Labor Standards Act<\/span><\/a> applies to nearly any business that engages in interstate commerce or has more than $500,000 in annual gross sales. The FLSA<\/span> sets basic standards on:<\/p>\n