Arkansas Worker Rights
Arkansas has a state minimum wage above the federal rate, set by voters, but otherwise follows federal law for most workplace rules.
- Arkansas
Pay
- Minimum wage: $11.00 per hour since 2021 for employers with 4 or more employees.
- Overtime: 1.5x over 40 hours a week.
- Prevailing wage: the state prevailing wage law was repealed in 2017; Davis-Bacon applies on federal projects.
Breaks and leave
- No state law requiring meal or rest breaks for adults.
- No state paid sick leave law. The federal FMLA may apply.
Unions and right-to-work
Arkansas is a right-to-work state: a union contract can’t require you to join a union or pay dues or fees to keep your job. You still have the right to organize and act together with coworkers under federal law. See Right-to-Work States.
Where to file
- Unpaid wages and overtime: Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Labor Standards, or the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Discrimination and harassment: the U.S. EEOC; the Arkansas Civil Rights Act can also be enforced in court.
- Safety: Federal OSHA covers private employers. See Federal OSHA States.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with Arkansas’s workers’ compensation agency. See Workers’ Compensation.
Check current rules: this is a summary. Wage rates and labor laws change often, usually on January 1 or July 1, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm details with the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: