Legalities: Employee regulations

Many questions about the federal requirements for business owners with employees can be answered on the Department of Labor's e-laws Adviser Web site. State laws can be researched on each state's home page. Here are a few areas of employee regulations with which a business owner and employer must be familiar:

Health and safety
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a Web site section titled Small Business Forums. The site offers A Handbook for Small Business and Help for New Business, which pertains to OSHA requirements and record keeping.

Workers' compensation
If you have three or more employees, you need insurance to protect anyone injured on the job. Contact your State Board of Workers' Compensation.

Wages
The Fair Labor Standards Act sets minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping and child labor standards for employment. Some employees -- such as farm workers and certain seasonal employees -- are exempt from overtime and minimum wage rules. Specifics can be found at the Department of Labor's Employment Standards Administration Web site.

Immigration Act
In keeping with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1986, all employers must verify the eligibility of new employees by filing Form I-9 with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. For forms and information go to the INS Web site.