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 Louisiana, employment law encompasses a variety of regulations and statutes that dictate the relationship between employers and employees. State-specific laws cover matters such as wage and hour requirements, discrimination in the workplace, and workers' compensation. For instance, the Louisiana Fair Employment Practices Act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Additionally, the Louisiana Wage Payment Act sets forth the rules for the frequency and manner of wage payments to employees. On the federal level, laws 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) provide a baseline of protections for employees across the United States, including those in Louisiana. These federal laws cover minimum wage, overtime pay, workplace safety, disability accommodations, and family leave, respectively. Employers in Louisiana must comply with both state and federal regulations, and when there is a conflict, the law that provides the most protection to the employee generally prevails.