Florida, like most states in the U.S., follows federal employment laws to some degree when it comes to employment law. However, many laws differ from state to state, and Florida has some of its own employment laws that differ from federal laws or other states. Here are five facts about Fl employment law you should know before you apply for any jobs there or work at one of its businesses and facilities.
#1 – Do you want to terminate an employee in FL?
Florida employers are only permitted to terminate employees for cause. If the termination is not for cause, then it would constitute an at-will termination. In other words, an at will termination can be done by either party without notice and without a reason. If the employer wants to terminate an employee for cause, they must give the employee written notice of their intent and provide specific reasons for the termination.
#2 – Are you aware of FL’s minimum wage?
Florida’s current minimum wage is $8.10 per hour as of January 1, 2017. If you are not aware of your state’s minimum wage and there is a discrepancy between your employer and the labor department, then you may need to contact a lawyer to find out more information.
#3 – Can you fire someone for no reason at all in FL?
Florida is an at will employment state which means that you can be fired for any reason, as long as the reason isn’t based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (over 40), disability or pregnancy. However, not all terminations are created equal and there are some nuances to this rule.
#4 – Can your employer force you to resign?
The Fl employment law states that,employers may not force employees to resign from their positions by means of coercion, intimidation, or threats. The employment relationship can only end in one of three ways: the employer can terminate the employee; the employee can quit (which they have a legal right to do); or the employer and employee can mutually agree to terminate their employment relationship.
#5 – Does the Equal Pay Act apply to FL employers?
The Equal Pay Act (EPA) requires employers to pay men and women performing substantially equal work at the same time, for equal work on jobs requiring equal skill, effort and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions. The EPA does not prohibit paying different wages to employees who perform work of different value that is of comparable difficulty or complexity.
