Despite 15 years working in the human resource outsourcing industry, the complexity of HR administration never ceases to amaze me! No one starts a business, just so that they can grapple with the myriad laws, regulations, guidelines, recommendations and expectations governing their employees.
Yet,State and federal laws direct employers on virtually every conceivable employment interaction, and the expectation exists that employers are aware, and comply, with all of them! Just to illustrate, there are over 50 regulations governing businesses that employ even one employee! We thought it would be a good idea to briefly list all the employment requirements of employers, based on the size of their workforce.
Most of these laws are probably familiar to all of you, but certainly many are not.
We highly advise you create a checklist to review the list below and contact an employment attorney if you have any questions or concerns as to your compliance.
On the other hand, you can contact a Human Resouces Outsourcing firm that will review and approve the list for you.
Outsourcing your human resources function enables you to access a team of experts that are familiar with the myriad of laws, can provide hands-on advice and direction, and assume much of the liability that goes with being an employer.
State and Federal Regulations, by Employee Size Please note: many of the requirements below are for California employers only.
Be sure to check the regulations governing your state of business.
One or More Employee

• Age Discrimination
• Agriculture Labor Relations Act
• Applicant Identification Records Act
• Change of Status Notification Requirement (State - EDD)
• Child Labor Laws (Federal and State)
• Civil Rights Act
• Confidentiality of Medical Information Act
• Corporate Criminal Liability Act
• Disability Insurance Coverage - SDI
• Domestic Partner Rights
• Dress Code Requirements
• Drug Free Workplace
• Drug Testing - (Federal)
• Earned Income Tax Credit Information Act
• Economic Espionage Act (Federal)
• Employee Invention Rights
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (State and Federal)
• Employee Registry- New Hire Reporting
• Employment Laws Applicable Regardless of Immigration Status
• Equal Pay Act
• Equal Pay Act (Federal)
• Ergonomics
• Fair Credit Reporting Act (Federal and State)
• Garnishments - Wage (Federal and State)
• Harassment - Age, Sex, Religion, etc
• Hazardous Substances Information Training Act
• Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) (Federal)
• Health Insurance Premium Payments (Federal)
• Immigration Reform and Control Act (Federal)
• Injury/Illness Prevention Plans (IIPP)
• Insurance Conversion Privileges
• Jury/Witness Duty Leave
• Lactation, Express Breast Milk Accommodation
• Military Duty Leave (State & Federal)
• National Labor Relations Act
• No Smoking Policy
• OSHA
• Paid Family Leave
• Personnel Records, Employee Review Rights
• School Visits for Suspended Child
• Sick Leave Usage- for Care of Family
• Summary Plan Description and Annual Rep Form 5500's.
  Required under Federal ERISA
• Time off to Vote
• Trade Secrets Act
• Unemployment Insurance Coverage (State and Federal)
• Veterans "Reemployment Law"
• Wage & Hour Provisions - DOL (Federal)
• Wage and Hours Provisions- IWC Orders
• Whistleblower Protection Act
• Workers Compensation Insurance Coverage

Two to Nineteen Employees

• Cal-COBRA (State)

Four or More Employees

• National Origin Discrimination (Federal)

Five or More Employees

• Fair Employment Practice Laws
• Pregnancy Disability Leave

Fifteen or More Employees

• Americans with Disabilities Act (Federal)
• Equal Employment Opportunity (Federal)

Twenty or More Employees

• Age Discrimination (ADEA) (Federal)
• COBRA - (Federal)
• California COBRA - continue up to 18 mos at the end of federal COBRA (State)

Twenty Five or More Employees

• Victims of Domestic Violence Leave Act
• Drug/Alcohol Rehabilitation
• Literacy Education for Employees Act
• Military Service Benefits - leave for spouse
• School Visitation by Parents, Guardians, Grandparents

Fifty or More Employees

• California Rights Act (CFRA)
• FEHA - Required Sexual Harassment Training (see also one or more employee)
• Federal Family Leave and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Mental Health Parity Act
• Volunteer Firefighters up to 14 days annual leave

Seventy-Five or More Employees

• California Layoff Law, Relocations, Terminations, and Mass Layoffs (WARN Act)

After reading through the above list of employment legislation and rules, it becomes abundantly clear that outsourcing HR, is probably an excellent option for most small businesses.
Stay in compliance, and earn the peace of mind your business deserves!