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Pennsylvania Labor Laws 2025

Pennsylvania has labor protections including the federal minimum wage, meal break requirements for both adults (after 5 hours in 7.5+ hour shifts) and minors, personnel file access rights, and comprehensive child labor restrictions.

Important: Pennsylvania requires meal breaks for adults working 7.5+ hour shifts (after first 5 hours) and for minors every 5 hours. Employees have the right to inspect their personnel files.

Minimum Wage

Pennsylvania follows the federal minimum wage with no state minimum wage law above federal levels.

Key Requirements

  • State minimum wage: $7.25 per hour (same as federal minimum)
  • Tipped employees: $2.83/hour minimum cash wage (with tip credit)
  • Applies to all employers covered by FLSA
  • No scheduled increases beyond federal changes
  • Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have discussed local increases but none currently in effect

Additional Resources

Overtime

Pennsylvania follows federal overtime requirements with some additional state provisions.

Key Requirements

  • Overtime pay: 1.5x regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
  • No daily overtime requirement (calculated weekly)
  • Standard FLSA exemptions apply (executive, administrative, professional)
  • Pennsylvania law mirrors federal requirements
  • Applies to all employers

Additional Resources

Meal and Rest Breaks

Pennsylvania requires meal breaks for employees working certain shifts.

Key Requirements

  • Minors under 18: 30-minute break for every 5 consecutive hours worked
  • Adults: Reasonable break period (typically 30 minutes) after first 5 hours in 7.5+ hour shift
  • Seasonal farmworkers: 30-minute break after 5 hours
  • Employees must be completely relieved of duties during unpaid meal breaks
  • No state law requiring paid rest breaks

Additional Resources

Payment of Wages

Pennsylvania has specific requirements for wage payment frequency and timing.

Key Requirements

  • Employees must be paid on regular paydays designated by employer
  • Pay frequency varies by industry but typically semi-monthly or bi-weekly
  • Final wages: Must be paid by next regular payday
  • Certain wage deductions require written authorization
  • Direct deposit allowed with employee written authorization

Additional Resources

Child Labor

Pennsylvania has comprehensive restrictions on youth employment.

Key Requirements

  • Work permits required for minors under 18
  • Ages 14-15: Limited to 3 hours per school day, 18 hours per week during school
  • Ages 14-15: 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week when school not in session
  • Ages 16-17: Limited to 8 hours per day, 28 hours per week during school, 44 per week in summer
  • Minors under 16 cannot work before 7am or after 7pm (9pm in summer)

Additional Resources

Personnel File Access

Pennsylvania employees have the right to inspect their personnel files.

Key Requirements

  • Employees have right to review their personnel file
  • Must be allowed to review at reasonable times
  • Employees can request copies of documents they signed
  • Former employees retain right to inspect personnel files
  • Employers must comply with inspection requests

Additional Resources

Meal Break Requirements

Pennsylvania has specific meal break requirements for different groups:

Adults (18+)

Reasonable break period (typically 30 minutes) after first 5 hours when working 7.5+ hour shift

Minors (Under 18)

30-minute break for every 5 consecutive hours worked

Seasonal Farmworkers

30-minute break after 5 hours of work

Personnel File Access Rights

Pennsylvania gives employees unique rights to access their personnel files:

  • Employees have the right to review their personnel file at reasonable times
  • Employees can request copies of documents they have signed
  • Former employees retain the right to inspect their personnel files
  • Employers must make files available upon request

Child Labor Hour Restrictions

Pennsylvania has specific hour restrictions for minors aged 16-17:

  • During school: 8 hours per day, 28 hours per week maximum
  • During summer: 8 hours per day, 44 hours per week maximum
  • More restrictive than federal law for 16-17 year olds

Wage Payment and Collection Law

Pennsylvania's wage law provides employee protections:

Employees must be paid on regular paydays. Final wages are due by the next regular payday. The state has strong wage theft protections and employees can file complaints with the Department of Labor & Industry.

Pennsylvania law requires employers to notify employees in writing of pay rates, paydays, and any changes to these terms.

Navigate Pennsylvania's Labor Requirements

Rightwork automatically enforces Pennsylvania's meal break requirements for both adults and minors, manages child labor hour restrictions, and ensures compliance with wage payment laws.

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