Employment Law in Kentucky

If you have suffered treatment from an employer in Kentucky that violates employment laws, learning more about the law can help. Hiring an employment law attorney can best help you navigate the process, and increase the chances of winning your case.

What Is Employment Law?

Employment law covers the rights, responsibilities, and obligations within the employer-employee relationship. Employment lawyers serve both employees and employers, though they generally focus their practice on serving one or the other. Regardless of who their clients are, their goal is to present a solid case and defend them.

Understanding Employment Law Labor Rights in Kentucky

Employees have a wide range of rights that employers cannot violate. If employers violate these rights, workers can file a complaint against them. Each state has unique labor laws and some also make provisions for qualifying independent contractors. Below are the most common topics covered in employment law across the country.

Wage and Hour Laws

Wage and hour laws safeguard non-exempt employees from being underpaid or working excessive hours without fair compensation. These regulations establish the minimum wage an employee can earn and specify the maximum hours they can work before qualifying for overtime pay.

In , as in every state, unique wage and hour laws apply. However, federal laws provide a baseline for all states. For instance, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, although many states set higher minimums to better reflect their cost of living.

The Fair Labor Standards Act states that non-exempt employees can only work 40 hours per week at their regular wage rates. If they exceed that number, the employer must pay them overtime rates at a minimum of time and a half. Some states also require weekend overtime pay, holiday pay, and overtime for working more than a certain number of hours each day.

Kentucky Employment Law forbids employers from discriminating against protected groups. It also prohibits them from retaliatory behavior towards employees that report malfeasance. Furthermore, the Kentucky Equal Pay Act protects workers from discriminatory wage practices. An employer with 2 or more employees is not permitted to pay different wages based on race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Workers’ Compensation

If you’ve been injured on the job in Kentucky, you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This includes payments for lost wages and past or future medical bills that resulted from your workplace injury.

To be eligible for workers’ compensation, you must meet these requirements:

  • You must be an employee.
  • You must have a work-related illness or injury.
  • Your employer must carry workers’ comp insurance.
  • You must meet the deadline for filing workers’ comp claims.

There are, however, exceptions to these requirements that may still make you eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, if your employer is denying you benefits, you should contact an experienced Kentucky attorney for assistance with your case.

Termination Rights under Kentucky Employment Law

If you live in an at-will state, or your employment is “at-will,” meaning you can be terminated from your job without notice and cause. However, even at-will employees have rights when it comes to termination. A violation of those rights can be a wrongful termination.

Here are some reasons your termination might be wrongful even if you are an at-will employee:

  • Written promises or contracts
  • Implied promises
  • Violations of public policy
  • Breaches of good faith and fair dealing
  • Workplace retaliation
  • Discrimination
  • Defamation
  • Fraud
  • Whistleblowing violations

The Kentucky Supreme Court recently upheld the state’s right-to-work laws. This means that Kentucky employees do not have to be members of a union to find employment, as opposed to “at will” work states.

If you believe your termination was wrongful due to the above circumstances, then contact a qualified Kentucky employment law attorney right away. This is because there are time constraints on how long you can wait to file a claim.

Unemployment Benefits

If you’ve lost your job, you can file for unemployment benefits with the state unemployment agency. The agency will either approve or deny your claim. If it’s approved, you’ll receive monthly unemployment checks and benefits in the mail after filing weekly unemployment claims. Still, unemployment claims can be denied for several reasons, including:

  • If you were fired for misconduct.
  • You voluntarily quit your job.
  • You do not have enough earnings during the work period.

If your claim is denied, then you can appeal the decision if you think it’s the wrong choice. Working with an experienced Kentucky attorney during the appeal process can improve your chances of winning the case.

Paid and Unpaid Time Off

Additionally, some states require paid time off as well as medical and family leave for employees. Oftentimes, this is combined into one singular paid time off, (PTO), amount. Laws can vary from state to state, but typically PTO is accrued over time and you’ll get a set amount of PTO days per year.

Some states have laws that force the employer to pay for unused PTO. If you are not given proper PTO or your employer doesn’t follow your state’s medical or family leave laws, you can file a complaint.

Kentucky employers are not required to provide paid sick leave, though most employers include it as a benefits package. However, state employees working full-time are eligible for leave for a variety of reasons. These can include illness, education, military, voting, and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Child Labor Laws

Child labor laws are a lot more strict than regular labor laws and require employers to be extra careful when scheduling minors. Each state has its own child labor laws that outline the number of hours a minor can work per week. These include how often they should have breaks, how many days in a row they can work, and how late they can work each night.

The Kentucky Department of Labor states that no minor under the age of 16 may be employed at any business during school hours. Minors under 16 can work 3 hours on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day, and 18 total hours per week. Minors are also cannot hold dangerous jobs like manufacturing, mining, logging, or using any type of power-driven machine.

Kentucky Employment Anti-Discrimination Laws

A collection of federal anti-discrimination laws protect workers from employment discrimination. Following are brief descriptions of some of these anti-discrimination acts:

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Prohibits employers from selecting job applicants and employees based on race, religion, color, sex, and national origin.
  • Age Discrimination Act: Prohibits discrimination based on age for employees over the age of 40 years old.
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities at any time during the application or hiring process or once the person holds the job.
  • Equal Pay Act: Requires employers to give men and women equal pay for equal work.

Sexual Harassment

If a coworker, employer, or client sexually harasses someone in the workplace; the employee has a set of rights to protect them from further harassment. Laws also offer protection from retaliation, such as getting fired for reporting a manager. If you or someone you know is facing sexual harassment in the workplace, report it to your HR department.

The Kentucky State Sexual Harassment Policy prohibits any type of unwelcome sexual advances in the workplace. This behavior can include but is not limited to, soliciting sexual favors, sexual threats, the offering of sexual favors, or statements that create a hostile environment.

Work With an Experienced Kentucky Employment Lawyer

If you have employment law concerns, or you’re currently preparing for a case in Kentucky, then working with an experienced attorney can help. The hard part is finding the right one. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Kentucky state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

About the Author

Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.

With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.

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