Employee Hiring Thresholds

If you are thinking of hiring a new employee, there are some things you should be aware of, especially as the total number of employees reaches certain thresholds.

	If you have 11 or more employees, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) requires that you keep and post certain records to track workplace safety.
	With 15 or more employee, the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities.
	With 20 or more employees, the Age Discrimination Act protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older.
	With 50 or more employees, the Family and Medical Leave Act requires you to provide job protected, unpaid leave for pregnant workers or those who have a family health emergency.
	With 100 or more employees, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires you to provide notice to employees 60 days in advance of covered plant closings and layoffs.
	States could be even stricter than federal laws, and companies with federal contracts could have special reporting requirements.

In an employee leasing relationship, you don't need to worry about meeting these thresholds. The PEO assumes the responsibility to remain compliant in almost all of the above listed areas. This is yet another advantage of retaining the services of a professional employer organization.