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 Maine, employment law encompasses a variety of statutes and regulations that dictate the relationship between employers and employees. State-specific laws cover matters such as minimum wage, which is higher than the federal minimum wage, overtime pay, employment discrimination, and workplace safety. Maine also has laws regarding leave policies, such as family medical leave which may offer more generous provisions than federal law. Additionally, Maine has its own regulations for workers' compensation and unemployment benefits. On the federal level, employment relationships in Maine are also subject to laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which regulates minimum wage and overtime; the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which ensures safe working conditions; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on disability; and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons. Employers in Maine must comply with both state and federal regulations, and in cases where state and federal laws differ, the law most beneficial to the employee typically prevails.