• Pennsylvania employers can fire retail clerks for having pink hair but not because of their religious beliefs.punk fashion model image by Randy McKown from Fotolia.com
  
  Retail employees are entitled to many of the same rights as other employees in Pennsylvania. These employees are "at will" and do not have the right to a reason for being fired, but have the right to non-discriminatory treatment under the law. Retail employees also have the same rights as other employees regarding minimum wage, overtime, and workers' compensation.
  
  

At-Will Employment

• Retail employees in Pennsylvania are considered at-will employees, meaning that either party can terminate employment without notice. Employers can fire retail employees for any reason orwithout stating a reason as long as they do not violate anti-discrimination laws. Retail employees therefore have the right to sue for wrongful termination only if they were fired due to membership in a protected class. Protected classes in Pennsylvania are race, religion, national origin, birth gender, age, and disability. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected classes as of 2010; therefore retail employees cannot sue if they are fired due to these attributes.
  
  

Minimum Wage and Overtime Law

• Retail employees in Pennsylvania have the right to be paid at least a minimum wage. The minimum wage in Pennsylvania as of 2010 is $7.25 per hour. Retail employees are entitled to overtime pay of time and a half for each hour over 40 worked in a particular week.
  
  

Workers Compensation

• Retail employees in Pennsylvania have the right to workers' compensation. If an employee is injured on the job and cannot work due to the injury, she has the right to temporary or permanent disability payments. Employees are paid up to 66 2/3 percent of their average weekly wages while disabled, depending upon the extent of the disability. Employees in Pennsylvania do not have the right to sue their employer for negligence; they waive this right when accepting workers' compensation payments.