Louisiana Employment Law Guide — Workplace Rights & Protections
At-will employment, discrimination, wages, harassment, and retaliation protections under Louisiana law.
An employment law claim — whether it involves discrimination, wage theft, wrongful termination, or retaliation — typically follows a complaint-and-investigation process before it ever reaches a courtroom. Most claims must first be filed with the EEOC or a state agency, which investigates and attempts to resolve the matter. If that does not work, the next step is litigation. The strength of your case depends heavily on documentation — what you can prove, and when you reported it.
Key Protections
Louisiana's primary employment protections come from the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law §23:332, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age (40+), pregnancy, sickle cell trait — applies to employers with 20+ employees for most claims; pregnancy discrimination applies to employers with 25+ employees.
At-Will Exceptions
Louisiana follows a strict at-will doctrine; limited exceptions through statutory protections for workers' comp retaliation and discrimination claims; no common-law public policy exception comparable to most states §23:1.
Wages and Compensation
| Louisiana Law | |
|---|---|
| Minimum Wage | No state minimum wage law; federal FLSA rate of $7.25/hr applies |
| Overtime | No state overtime law; federal FLSA overtime rules apply (1.5x regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek) |
| Wage Payment | Wages due at separation must be paid at the place and in the manner customary during employment, or by prepaid U.S. mail to the employee's address on file; if the amount due is disputed, the employer must still pay the undisputed portion §23:631 |
| Final Paycheck | If fired, final wages due by the next regular payday or no later than 15 days following discharge, whichever occurs first; if the employee quits, due by the next regular payday for the pay cycle worked at separation or no later than 15 days following resignation, whichever occurs first §23:631 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
General answers to common questions. Specific outcomes depend on your facts and timing.
If you have a deadline, court notice, or upcoming hearing, mention it when requesting assistance so timing can be evaluated promptly.
- One-year prescriptive period to file a civil suit under the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law; this period is suspended during any EEOC or LCHR administrative review or investigation, but the suspension may not exceed six months