labor lawAdivision of labor law center

If you live or work in the state of Oklahoma, you might be interested to learn more about some of the labor laws on the books in the state. Here’s a brief summary of some of the applicable laws on this topic.

Employees in the state of Oklahoma are protected from several types of employment discrimination. As under federal law, employers may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap. Oklahoma labor laws also prohibit discrimination based on genetic testing results. Finally, employers must not discriminate against workers who smoke during off hours or prohibit them from doing so, unless it is mandated by a union contract.

Laws regarding the payment of wages are often of interest to employees and employers alike. The minimum wage in Oklahoma is equal to that of the federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour. Tipped employees may be paid $2.13 per hour, as long as their total wages per hour including tips is at least the minimum wage. Oklahoma labor laws require wages to be paid to non-exempt employees at least twice per month, while exempt employees may be paid as infrequently as monthly. Any employee who quits or is fired must be paid by the next regular payday.

Child labor laws are another important section of the Oklahoma Labor Laws. The child labor laws in Oklahoma only apply to 14 and 15 year old minors – employers of 16 and 17 year olds need only follow the federal rules. Minors under 16 must get a work permit in order to hold a job. The law also sets strict limits on the hours minors of this age may work, and the types of jobs they may be employed in.

These are just a few examples of the topics covered by Oklahoma labor laws. Other laws cover workplace safety for public employees, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, and various types of licensing. For an up-to-date listing of all the applicable state and federal labor laws, please see the Oklahoma Complete Labor Law Poster.

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