Alabama Worker Rights
Alabama mostly relies on federal labor law. There’s no state minimum wage, no state paid leave law, and no state agency for most wage or discrimination claims, so federal agencies do much of the enforcement.
- Alabama
Pay
- Minimum wage: no state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 applies to most jobs. State law bars cities from setting their own higher minimum wage.
- Overtime: federal rules, 1.5x over 40 hours a week. See Overtime.
- Prevailing wage: no state prevailing wage law; Davis-Bacon applies on federally funded projects. See Prevailing Wage.
Breaks and leave
- No state law requiring meal or rest breaks for adults.
- No state paid sick leave or paid family leave law. The federal FMLA may apply. See Leave Laws.
Age discrimination
The Alabama Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects workers 40 and older at employers with 20 or more employees, similar to federal law.
Unions and right-to-work
Alabama is a right-to-work state: a union contract can’t require you to join a union or pay dues or fees to keep your job. You still have the right to organize and act together with coworkers under federal law. See Right-to-Work States.
Where to file
- Unpaid wages and overtime: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (Alabama has no state agency for most wage claims), or a lawsuit.
- Discrimination and harassment: the U.S. EEOC; Alabama has no state agency for most private-sector discrimination claims.
- Safety: Federal OSHA covers private employers. See Federal OSHA States.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with Alabama’s workers’ compensation agency. See Workers’ Compensation.
Check current rules: this is a summary. Wage rates and labor laws change often, usually on January 1 or July 1, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm details with the Alabama Department of Workforce before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: