Employment law is a broad category of laws—statutes, case law (court opinions), rules, and regulations—that govern the relationship between an employer and an employee. Employment law includes state laws that only apply to employer-employee relationships in a given state, and federal laws that apply to employer-employee relationships in all states.

In Colorado, employment law encompasses a variety of regulations and statutes that dictate the relationship between employers and employees. This includes laws on minimum wage, which as of 2023 is $13.65 per hour for non-tipped employees and $10.63 for tipped employees. Colorado also has laws regarding overtime pay, requiring time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek or over 12 hours in a workday. The state upholds the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, marriage to a co-worker, or pregnancy. Additionally, Colorado has its own laws regarding leave, such as the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, which mandates paid sick leave for employees. These state-specific regulations operate alongside federal laws that apply nationwide, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), among others. Employers in Colorado must comply with both sets of laws, and when there is a conflict, the law more favorable to the employee typically prevails.