Louisiana Employment Laws for Employers
Reviewed Sep 27, 2026 3 of 13 rules verified against official sources How we verify
Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. General information; laws vary by state. Terms of use
Final pay and unused vacation
Unused vacation (PTO) at separation
Do you have to pay out unused vacation when someone leaves?Depends on your policyVerified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources
In Louisiana, vacation pay is an amount due at discharge or resignation if, under the employer's stated vacation policy, the employee is eligible for and has accrued the right to take paid vacation and has not taken or been paid for it. The law does not allow forfeiture of vacation pay actually earned under the employer's policy. (La. R.S. 23:631(D))
“(2) The provisions of this Subsection shall not be interpreted to allow the forfeiture of any vacation pay actually earned by an employee pursuant to the employer's policy.”
Put it in writing with the PTO policy template for Louisiana.
Pending verification. Not verified for Louisiana yet, so no answer is shown. Each link opens the official source to check.
Wages, paydays and breaks
Paydays
How often do you have to pay?Depends on the caseVerified Sep 27, 2026 · 2 official sources
Employers with 10 or more employees engaged in manufacturing, mining or boring for oil, and every public service corporation, must pay employees no less than twice during each calendar month. Except at public service corporations, this does not apply to the clerical force or to salesmen, and it does not cover employees in a bona fide executive, administrative, supervisory or professional capacity or employees exempt under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. (Louisiana payday law (DOL WHD State Payday Requirements, footnote 7))
“7 Louisiana. Applicable to entities employing 10 or more employees that are engaged in manufacturing, mining, or boring for oil, and to every public service corporation. Payment is required no less than twice during each calendar month.”
“B. Every person, engaged in manufacturing of any kind, or engaged in boring for oil and in mining operations, employing ten or more employees, and every public service corporation, shall make full payment to employees for services performed no less than twice during each calendar month, which paydays shall be two weeks apart as near as is practicable”
Pending verification:
Paid sick leave
Pending verification:
Ending employment
At-will employment
Yes. Louisiana follows at-will employment, with these exceptions (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review (Jan. 2001), "The employment-at-will doctrine: three major exceptions"):
- Public policy: Not recognized (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review (Jan. 2001), "The employment-at-will doctrine: three major exceptions")
- Implied contract: pending verification (official source)
- Good faith and fair dealing: pending verification (official source)
Public policy exception: recognized?Not recognizedVerified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources
Louisiana does not recognize a common-law public-policy exception to at-will employment; under the Civil Code an employer may dismiss an at-will employee for any reason, provided the termination does not violate a statutory or constitutional provision (such as anti-discrimination laws). (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review (Jan. 2001), "The employment-at-will doctrine: three major exceptions"; Narcisse v. Turner Indus. Group, No. 11-2659 (E.D. La. Apr. 30, 2012), citing La. Civ. Code art. 2747 and Quebedeaux v. Dow Chem. Co., 820 So. 2d 542 (La. 2002))
“Seven States have rejected the public-policy exception in its entirety: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, and Rhode Island.”
“An employee hired for an indefinite term has no action against his employer for wrongful discharge.”
Louisiana and its neighbors
| State | Final pay after firing | Final pay after quitting | Minimum wage | Paid sick leave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | Pending verification. Official source (legis.la.gov). | Pending verification. Official source (legis.la.gov). | Pending verification. Official source (dol.gov). | Pending verification. Official source (legis.la.gov). |
| Texas | 6 calendar days | Next regular payday | $7.25 per hour | No statewide law |
| Arkansas | Next regular payday | Pending verification. Official source (arkleg.state.ar.us). | $11.00 per hour | Pending verification. Official source (labor.arkansas.gov). |
| Mississippi | Pending verification. Official source (mdes.ms.gov). | Pending verification. Official source (mdes.ms.gov). | Pending verification. Official source (dol.gov). | Pending verification. Official source (ca5.uscourts.gov). |
Verified rules only; open a state for its sources.
What an employee costs in Louisiana
Every employer pays Social Security 6.2% (Publication 15), Medicare 1.45% (Topic 751) and FUTA (Topic 759). Louisiana adds its unemployment insurance tax:
| Louisiana payroll tax, 2026 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Taxable wage base per employee | $7,000 |
| Rates for experience-rated employers | 0.09% to 6.00% |
| New-employer rate | Average rate for your industry |
| FUTA credit reduction | None for 2025 or 2026 |
| Estimated employer taxes on a $40,000 salary | $3,102 (7.8%) |
The estimate counts FUTA at 0.6% of the first $7,000 ($42 per employee), which assumes the full FUTA credit (Topic 759).
Estimate for a new employer and a full year, without the state tax; check with your payroll provider. Sources: U.S. DOL, State UI Laws, July 2026, page 2; U.S. DOL, FUTA credit reductions.
Federal wage enforcement in Louisiana
In FY2021 to FY2025, the federal Wage and Hour Division concluded 710 cases in Louisiana (n = 710), 577 with violations, finding $10,520,311 in back wages owed to 9,789 employees and assessing $591,302 in civil money penalties (DOL enforcement data). Overtime back wages were part of 49.6% of the violation cases. OSHA opened 2,494 inspections in the same years (OSHA data). Enforcement data is not a violation rate: it shows where federal investigators looked. Wage violations by industry.
Louisiana has no OSHA-approved State Plan for private workplaces, so federal OSHA enforces workplace safety for private employers in Louisiana (OSHA: State Plans).
Changelog
- Sep 24, 2026: first verified, 1 rule.
- Sep 26, 2026: verified: payday frequency (manufacturing mining oil 10 plus or public service), now backed by two independent official sources. (legis.la.gov)
- Sep 28, 2026: verified: PTO payout, now backed by two independent official sources. (legis.la.gov)
Questions about Louisiana employment laws
Is Louisiana an at-will state?
Yes. Louisiana follows at-will employment, with exceptions. Of the 3 common exceptions, we have verified 1, and 0 are recognized in Louisiana (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review (Jan. 2001), "The employment-at-will doctrine: three major exceptions").
Sources (7)
- Louisiana payday law (DOL WHD State Payday Requirements, footnote 7)
- La. R.S. 23:633(B)
- La. R.S. 23:631(D)
- Gogreve v. Downtown Development District, No. 05-2112 (E.D. La. Mar. 30, 2006), quoting La. R.S. 23:631(D)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review (Jan. 2001), "The employment-at-will doctrine: three major exceptions"
- Narcisse v. Turner Indus. Group, No. 11-2659 (E.D. La. Apr. 30, 2012), citing La. Civ. Code art. 2747 and Quebedeaux v. Dow Chem. Co., 820 So. 2d 542 (La. 2002)
- U.S. Department of Labor: State labor offices
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error
General information, not legal advice. Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change; check the official source or talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Report an error