Louisiana Worker Rights
Louisiana has no state minimum wage law and mostly follows federal labor rules, with a state final-pay law and a state human rights commission.
- Louisiana
Pay
- Minimum wage: no state law, so the federal $7.25 applies to most jobs. Cities can’t set their own.
- Overtime: federal rules, 1.5x over 40 hours a week.
- Final pay: by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first. Employers who refuse to pay can owe penalty wages.
- Prevailing wage: no state law; 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.
Heat and storms
Long, humid summers and hurricane cleanup make heat illness and storm hazards major concerns. See Heat Illness and Disaster Cleanup.
Unions and right-to-work
Louisiana 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: Louisiana Workforce Commission, or the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
- Discrimination and harassment: Louisiana Commission on Human Rights, or the U.S. EEOC.
- Safety: Federal OSHA covers private employers. See Louisiana safety rules.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with Louisiana’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 Louisiana Workforce Commission before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: