Intro to Kentucky Labor Laws
Get an overview of the Kentucky labor laws small businesses should know when hiring, and updates on employment laws that could impact your business.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Kentucky is $7.25 per hour, which is the same as the federal minimum wage.
Kentucky also has overtime requirements that stipulate employers must pay overtime to employees who’ve worked over 40 hours in a workweek.
References: Kentucky Wages and Hours
Minimum Exempt Salary Requirements
Kentucky follows the federal minimum exempt requirement of $684 per week or $35,568 per year for most exemptions from minimum wage & overtime.
References: Federal Minimum Exemption Threshold
Meal & Rest Laws
In Kentucky, employees are entitled to a paid 10-minute break for every four hours of work and a reasonable meal break between the third and fifth hour of their shift, unless an alternative time has been mutually agreed upon. Employees under the age of 18 must be given at least a 30-minute meal break after every five hours of work.
Lactation Accommodation Laws
Under the Kentucky Pregnant Workers Act (KY PWA), employers with 15 or more employees must provide reasonable accommodation related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. This can include allowing frequent or longer breaks, granting time off, modifying work schedules or job responsibilities, and providing a private space to pump breast milk that isn’t a bathroom.
References: Kentucky Pregnant Workers Act
Updates to Kentucky Labor Laws
Keep up to date with important changes to state and local employment laws in Kentucky.
The city of Lexington passed their Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act on May 12, 2023, prohibiting discrimination based on natural hair and hairstyles associated with any race, religion, and national origin. This new ordinance provides additional protection against discrimination from employment, educational, and housing opportunities. Employers should take action by reviewing their anti-discrimination, dress code, and appearance policies and updating their policies to be inclusive of these protections.
Governor Beshar signed an executive order protecting the possession of marijuana for certain medical purposes, as outlined in the order. Kentucky employers can still maintain policies that prohibit drug use or require drug testing, but should review such policies to take into account how these new protections may impact the need to accommodate medical conditions of candidates and employees alike.
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, legal or tax advice. If you have any legal or tax questions regarding this content or related issues, then you should consult with your professional legal or tax advisor.
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