Georgia Worker Rights
Georgia mostly follows federal labor law. Its state minimum wage is below the federal rate, and there’s no state agency for most wage claims.
- Georgia
Pay
- Minimum wage: the state minimum is $5.15, but the federal $7.25 applies to nearly all jobs. Cities can’t set higher minimums.
- Overtime: federal rules, 1.5x over 40 hours a week.
- Prevailing wage: no state prevailing wage law; Davis-Bacon applies on federal projects.
Breaks and leave
- No state law requiring meal or rest breaks for adults.
- Family Care Act: employees at employers with 25 or more workers can use up to 5 days of their own earned sick leave a year to care for family members. There’s no state law requiring paid sick leave itself.
Unions and right-to-work
Georgia 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 (the Georgia Department of Labor doesn’t handle most wage claims), or a lawsuit.
- Discrimination and harassment: the U.S. EEOC; Georgia has no state agency for most private-sector claims.
- Safety: Federal OSHA covers private employers. See Georgia safety rules.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with Georgia’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 Georgia Department of Labor before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: