Pennsylvania Labor and Employment Law Key Terms

Know Pennsylvania labor and employment law key terms that impact your business

By Michele Vrouvas

If you're going to operate your business in Pennsylvania, you'll need to comply with both federal and state employment laws. Those laws regulate your hiring and firing practices and many other aspects of employee management. For example, while Pennsylvania businesses have adopted the "at will" approach to employment, there still may be circumstances where you need to show cause for terminating workers. Learn key terms and concepts of Pennsylvania employment law so you can optimize your HR strategies.

Right to know law

Pennsylvania's right to know law spells out the procedures that individuals must follow when they want to inspect records held by the state's Department of Labor and Industry.
Try: For a comprehensive explanation of Pennsylvania's right to know law, check out the Policies and Procedures published by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

Workers' compensation

Federal law requires companies to provide workers' compensation when employees have been injured on the job.
Try: Pennsylvania employment lawyers at Rothman Gordon discuss the implications of workers' compensation requirements in the state.

At will employment

At will employment refers to a company's ability to terminate its workers for any reason it considers justifiable, as long as that reason is not prohibited by law.
Try: Lawyers spells out the situations in Pennsylvania where a company may be able to overcome the presumption of at will employment in seeking to terminate employees.

Construction site accidents

Construction site accidents make up perhaps the largest group of workplace mishaps.
Try: Pennsylvania attorneys Anapol Schwartz explain the responsibility that businesses have when their employees work at construction sites. Find out specific instances giving rise to the most frequently seen construction site accidents.

Discrimination

The term discrimination broadly refers to the practice of making business decisions that are adversely based upon employees' personal characteristics.
Try: Ogg, Cordes, Murphy & Ignelzi describes the different types of workplace discrimination that Pennsylvania law recognizes.

Wrongful termination

Companies that are guilty of wrongful termination have fired an employee for reasons protected by state or federal law.
Try: Ashbach Law provides a list of Pennsylvania laws that protect employees from wrongful termination.