Louisiana business owners require their HR managers and staff to know how to comply with labor laws in Louisiana. This on the job training includes knowing where and how to find state statutes that relate to employment regulations and also how to implement these laws in the company's human resources policy.

This training program has two main goals. The first is to encourage HR employees to undertake their own research into official sources of law. The second is to deepen their understanding of the purpose of these laws and the consequences of failing to comply with them. As you design a Louisiana labor and employment law education and training model, consider using the following approach:

1. Find Louisiana work laws on state government websites that answer frequently asked questions and provide helpful handbooks for employers.

2. Learn about Louisiana employment law by reading insightful commentaries that legal professionals publish.

3. Encourage employees to sign up for seminars so they can build relationships with legal professionals and expand their understanding of Louisiana labor laws.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Go straight to official sources of Louisiana employee laws

Your training program on Louisiana work laws should encourage human resource staff to access websites that contain the government's enforcement policies. HR staff can also get official documents such as employer handbooks that the Louisiana state government prepares to assist business owners.

I recommend: The Louisiana Workforce Commission provides a section on answers to the most frequently asked questions about the state's labor laws. Click on any of the employment law topics on Labor Law Talk to be connected to the statute relating to that topic. The State of Louisiana Services Directory links you to an employer handbook on child labor laws.

Access commentaries from labor lawyers in Louisiana

Expand your HR staff's Louisiana labor and employment law education and training by encouraging them to read articles which explain how professionals interpret and implement state laws in everyday life. Suggest that staff check articles with differing viewpoints on Louisiana work laws so they can make more informed policy decisions. Louisiana Labor and Employment Law Education and Training

I recommend: Search E L Infonet.com for timely articles on Louisiana working laws. Use HR Hero to access the Louisiana Employment Law Letter so you can stay on top of recent decisions affecting employment in Louisiana that federal and state courts hand down. Read commentaries on recent court decisions and new legislation at the Louisiana Law Blog.

Attend seminars to learn Louisiana employment regulations

Once employees in your training program have done research into primary and secondary sources, they can enjoy seminars where they'll meet employment law professionals who can offer practical tips on Louisiana work laws.

I recommend: Employment lawyers Fisher & Phillips maintain office locations in many cities, including New Orleans. The firm hosts webinars on topics relating to employment law that show how HR professionals in any state, including Louisiana, can operate under these laws. Shaw Valenza offers webinars to businesses and HR professionals in every state. These webinars explain how new federal laws will impact a company's hiring practice and its business environment.

Labor laws in Louisiana help employers protect their businesses through compliance with safety standards, fair hiring practices and work environment. Louisiana labor and employment labor law helps both employers and employees have better working relationships in a more productive environment.

Louisiana labor and employment law makes working better for everyone. Labor law, although originally intended to improve working conditions for laborers, boosts business owner’s bottom line by increased productivity.

Louisiana labor laws deal with job safety, employee foreman ratios, break time, lunch time and safety standards within the work environment. Updated Louisiana labor laws meet the demand of new technology and constantly changing work requirements. Understand and comply with Louisiana work laws to:

1. Stay in compliance with changes to Louisiana labor and employment law.

2. Provide productive work environments for employees through Louisiana employment law.

3. Protect your businesses from frivolous lawsuits.

4. Keep productivity high.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Display Louisiana employment law posters in easy to read locations around your facility

Keeping employees informed of their rights and responsibilities under employment law in Louisiana keeps them empowered. Louisiana labor law posters provide the latest updates or changes in labor law in Louisiana.

I recommend: GovDocs and LaborLawCenter carry up to date government recommended Louisiana employment law posters for display around your facility.

Protect yourself and your employees by keeping up to date on Louisiana labor laws

The only way to guard your company from frivolous lawsuits and keep employees happy is to promote a safe work environment and understand your rights as an employer. Keeping up to date on changes to current laws and how the effect your particular company is vital to a healthy work environment.

I recommend: Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about labor laws at the Louisiana Department of labor website. Visit the Download Center for a full menu of forms, schedules, annual reports and licensing requirements from the Louisiana Department of Labor.

Increase productivity by going above and beyond required state of Louisiana work laws

Louisiana employment law, as in any state, gives guidelines and requirements for what the state considers a safe working environment. Going above the minimum requirements to keep employees happy is a great way to increase their overall productivity.

I recommend: Register at Louisiana Works, Louisiana's virtual labor and employment center for the latest information about changes to labor and employment laws in Louisiana. HRhero.com is a subscription service offering the latest updates to state by state employment law.

Find labor lawyers in Louisiana from a Louisiana employment laws firm

Employment law attorneys from Louisiana employment law firms help clients understand Louisiana employment law. Labor lawyers in Louisiana from Louisiana employment law firms keep clients informed and in compliance with the latest changes and updates to Louisiana employment law.

I recommend: Jones Walker of Baton Rouge and Lafayette, LA, specializes in labor and employment issues in Louisiana. Phelps Dunbar, LLP has offices in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Discuss changes to Louisiana employee laws with your union representative. If you are a non union business, be sure someone in your Human Resources department is in charge of all issues related to Louisiana working laws.
• •  Post Louisiana state labor law posters anywhere employees tend to congregate or spend time on breaks. Conference rooms, break rooms, lunch rooms and near time clocks are all great places to for labor law posters.

Louisiana work laws play a prominent role in regulating how companies conduct their business. The state seeks to protect the public by requiring all businesses to operate under fair labor policies.

If you own a business in Louisiana, you’ll find that Louisiana employment lawyers can assist you in knowing what state labor laws require. For example, you’ll need to know whether Louisiana requires businesses to pay a minimum wage, whether they must display labor posters at their facilities and how state regulations protect employees from being wrongfully discharged if they have done nothing more than report unlawful behavior on the part of their employers. Here’s a basic overview of Louisiana labor and employment law for beginners.

1. Learn Louisiana labor and employment law relating to compensation and employee benefits.

2. Find out how labor laws in Louisiana hope to ensure that employers provide safe working environments.

3. Know the Louisiana labor laws protecting workers from wrongful discharge.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out how Louisiana employment law regulates compensation and benefits

Louisiana does not have a minimum wage law but does make other laws impacting the compensation businesses should provide. State law does, however, protect an employee's job should he decide to take family or medical leave. Louisiana businesses are required to provide workers' compensation insurance for employees injured at work.

I recommend: Gaebler’s website explains Louisiana minimum compensation standards. For specifics on Louisiana’s compliance with the federal Family & Medical Leave Act, go to the Department of State Civil Service. Get a summary of coverage and benefits for workers’ compensation at WorkWorld.

Discover how Louisiana working laws protect workers from unsafe work environments

As you hunt down sources on Louisiana labor and employment law for beginners, you'll find out about state posting requirements. Businesses must display posters informing employees of laws requiring the timely payment of wages, availability of unemployment and workers compensation insurance and a company's smoking policy. Through the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the state follows OSHA guidelines for establishing work safety programs. Businesses with a certain number of employees in Louisiana are subject to anti-discrimination laws.

I recommend: Get details on state posting requirements at Labor Law Talk. Check out the Department of Labor website to learn how Louisiana state government works together with federal agencies to ensure workplace safety. Nolo offers a review of the state and federal anti-discrimination laws Louisiana businesses must follow.

Learn how Louisiana employment regulations protect employees from unlawful termination

Louisiana is an 'at will' state. An employment relationship can be dissolved by either party for almost any reason. Labor lawyers in Louisiana counsel businesses on how they must respond to whistleblowers so that their actions cannot be considered retaliatory.

I recommend: LA-legal.com discusses state law surrounding “at will” employment and the exceptions to it. Check out the discussion at Unfair Termination to protect yourself from charges of unlawful retaliation against employees who file complaints about you. FindLaw provides access to whistleblower statutes in Louisiana.

Attorneys must stay current on Louisiana labor and employment law news and trends. This area of law can be affected by legislation and court rulings involving Louisiana labor and employment law. Louisiana has a variety of procedures and forms for dealing with matters of labor and employment law. Attorneys who practice labor and employment law also may wish to remain informed on what the general public thinks about changes in Louisiana labor and employment law.

Information on news and trends for Louisiana employee laws may be grouped according to source, such as the following three categories:

1. Independent news sources on Louisiana labor laws. These sources include blogs, magazines and newspapers, and generally do not rely on any particular lobby group or business. They may contain hard news, as well as varied opinions, on labor and employment law.
2. State websites. These sites are the best source of official news and trends on Louisiana labor law, such as current procedures or rulings.
3. Labor and employment law attorneys. Legal professionals may be able to provide inside news and other information on labor and employment law that is not readily available elsewhere.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Study independent sources of news and trends on Louisiana employment law

News organizations frequently report on legislative updates on Louisiana labor and employment law. Individuals also may keep blogs and journals on labor law in Louisiana.

I recommend: The Lafayette Parish School System has news on its implementation of child labor laws in Louisiana. The Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation provides an article on labor law in Louisiana for young workers.

Review state websites to get official news and other information on Louisiana labor laws

Louisiana government websites are the best places to get the latest news about Louisiana labor and employment law. A Louisiana website also may publish the state statutes to help attorneys stay informed on the latest legislation that relates to Louisiana labor and employment law.

I recommend: The Louisiana Workforce Commission provides news updates on labor laws in Louisiana. The Louisiana Workforce Investment Council offers bulletins on labor and employment news throughout Louisiana.

Get inside news on labor law from labor lawyers in Louisiana

Louisiana employment law firms frequently have information on Louisiana law that is not available elsewhere. These attorneys may publish newsletters or full length articles on a particular aspect of labor and employment law in Louisiana.

I recommend: Lemle & Kelleher provides regular newsletters on topics of employment and labor law in Louisiana. Fisher & Phillips has offices in New Orleans and has a newsletter with labor law updates.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Louisiana labor laws also include protection for older workers, and the trend in these laws over time has been to protect older workers. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 prohibits employment discrimination against employees 40 years of age or older. The ADEA was amended in 1986 and again in 1991 by the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act.