US

United States Employment Law & HR Services

Expert guidance on federal and state employment regulations, compliance requirements, and best practices for businesses operating in the United States.

60+ US Legal Experts
SHRM & ABA Certified
50-State Coverage
Same-Day Response

Key US Employment Regulations

Essential legal frameworks that every US employer must understand

At-Will Employment

The foundational principle of US employment law that allows employers or employees to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, subject to exceptions.

  • Varies by state with different exceptions
  • Public policy exceptions protect certain activities
  • Implied contract exceptions based on promises
  • Covenant of good faith exceptions in some states

Title VII & Anti-Discrimination

Federal laws prohibiting workplace discrimination based on protected characteristics, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and more.

  • Applies to employers with 15+ employees (Title VII)
  • Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin
  • Requires reasonable accommodations for disabilities
  • State laws often provide additional protections

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Federal law establishing minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards.

  • Federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour (higher in many states)
  • Overtime pay at 1.5x regular rate for hours over 40 per week
  • Exempt vs. non-exempt classification requirements
  • Child labor restrictions and recordkeeping obligations

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Federal law providing eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.

  • Applies to employers with 50+ employees
  • Up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year
  • Job protection and continued health benefits
  • State laws may provide additional protections

Employee Benefits Regulation

Federal laws governing employee benefits, including ERISA, COBRA, and the Affordable Care Act.

  • ERISA governs employer-sponsored benefit plans
  • COBRA provides continued health coverage after job loss
  • ACA employer mandate for 50+ full-time employees
  • Complex reporting and disclosure requirements

State-Specific Regulations

Employment laws vary significantly by state, creating a complex compliance landscape for multi-state employers.

  • Paid sick leave laws in many states and cities
  • State-specific minimum wage and overtime rules
  • Varying non-compete and restrictive covenant laws
  • Different reporting and posting requirements

Common US HR Challenges

Expert solutions to the most frequent employment issues faced by US businesses

Termination & Severance

Despite at-will employment, terminations carry significant legal risk, particularly for protected classes and in states with exceptions.

How Ask Athena Helps:

  • State-specific termination risk assessment
  • Severance agreement review and development
  • Documentation strategies to mitigate risk
  • WARN Act compliance for mass layoffs
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Wage & Hour Compliance

FLSA compliance is complex, with costly class action risks for misclassification and overtime violations.

How Ask Athena Helps:

  • Exempt vs. non-exempt classification audits
  • State-specific minimum wage compliance
  • Overtime calculation guidance
  • Independent contractor vs. employee analysis
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ADA Accommodations

Navigating reasonable accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act requires careful interactive process management.

How Ask Athena Helps:

  • Interactive process documentation templates
  • Accommodation assessment frameworks
  • Medical certification review guidance
  • Undue hardship analysis support
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Multi-State Compliance

Businesses operating across multiple states face a complex patchwork of state and local employment laws.

How Ask Athena Helps:

  • State-specific policy development
  • Multi-state handbook review and updates
  • Local ordinance compliance strategies
  • State-specific training requirements
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US Compliance Requirements

Essential regulatory obligations for businesses operating in the United States

Required Workplace Postings

Federal and state laws require employers to display specific labor law posters in the workplace.

  • Federal posters (FLSA, FMLA, OSHA, etc.)
  • State-specific posting requirements
  • Electronic posting options for remote workers
  • Annual updates to reflect changing laws

OSHA Compliance

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide a safe workplace free from recognized hazards.

  • Written safety programs and training
  • Hazard communication requirements
  • Recordkeeping and reporting obligations
  • Industry-specific safety standards

I-9 & E-Verify

Federal law requires employers to verify the identity and employment authorization of all employees.

  • Form I-9 completion within 3 days of hire
  • Document verification requirements
  • E-Verify participation (mandatory in some states)
  • Retention and audit preparation

Tax Reporting

Employers have extensive tax reporting and withholding obligations at federal, state, and local levels.

  • Federal income tax withholding
  • Social Security and Medicare (FICA)
  • Federal and state unemployment taxes
  • W-2, 1099, and ACA reporting

US Success Stories

Real examples of how we've helped US businesses solve complex HR and legal challenges

Tech Company Navigates Multi-State Expansion

Technology California-based 120 employees

Challenge: A California-based tech company expanding to New York, Texas, and Illinois needed to navigate different state employment laws while maintaining operational efficiency.

Solution: Our US employment law experts provided:

  • State-specific addendums to employee handbook
  • Compliant offer letter and employment agreement templates
  • Multi-state paid leave policy development
  • State-specific manager training on compliance issues

Result: Successfully expanded to all target states with zero compliance issues, 40% cost savings compared to using traditional law firms in each state, and streamlined onboarding process for new hires.

Manufacturing Company FLSA Compliance Overhaul

Manufacturing Midwest 350+ employees

Challenge: A Midwest manufacturing company faced potential wage and hour liability due to inconsistent overtime practices and employee misclassification.

Solution: Ask Athena provided:

  • Comprehensive FLSA classification audit
  • Overtime calculation policy development
  • Time tracking system implementation guidance
  • Manager training on wage and hour compliance

Result: Reclassified 28 employees correctly, implemented compliant overtime policies, and established proper recordkeeping systems, avoiding potential penalties and litigation.

Meet Our US Experts

Qualified professionals with deep expertise in US employment law and HR practices

US Employment Law Expert

Michael Rodriguez

Senior Employment Attorney

18+ years experience Licensed in CA, NY, TX Former EEOC investigator

"The US employment law landscape is a complex patchwork of federal, state, and local regulations. My goal is to make compliance straightforward and practical for businesses."

US HR Specialist

Jennifer Taylor

HR Compliance Director

SHRM-SCP certified 15+ years HR experience Multi-state expertise

"I specialize in translating complex legal requirements into practical HR policies and procedures that work for both employers and employees."

US Employment Resources

Practical guides and templates for US employers

US Employee Handbook Template

Customizable template with federal compliance and state-specific addendums.

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FLSA Classification Checklist

Tool for properly classifying employees as exempt or non-exempt under federal standards.

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ADA Interactive Process Guide

Step-by-step guidance for handling accommodation requests compliantly.

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2025 US Employment Law Calendar

Key dates for federal and state employment law changes and compliance deadlines.

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