Maine Regulation of Employment Labor Law Poster

[laborlaw]

Labor Laws of the State of Maine provide protection for people who work in Maine. The Maine Department of Labor administers the laws, which all employers must follow. Department representatives inspect workplaces to ensure compliance. Citations and penalties may be issued to employers who do not comply.

This poster describes some important parts of the laws. A copy of the actual laws or formal interpretations may be obtained from the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards

Maine Law (Title 26, MRSA, Section 839) requires every employer to place this poster in the workplace where workers can easily see it.

Time of Payment
Employees must be paid at least every 16 days.
Payment of Wages
Employees who leave a job must be paid in full on the next payday or within two weeks, whichever is earlier. Any vacation pay earned is due at the same time.
Unfair Agreement
Employers cannot deduct from an employee’s pay for losses such as broken merchandise, bad checks, or bills not paid by customers.
Rest Breaks
Most employees must be offered a 30-minute paid or unpaid rest break after 6 hours of work.
Family Medical Leave
An employee who has worked for the last 12 months at a workplace with 15 or more employees, can have leave for up to 10 paid or unpaid consecutive weeks in 2 years for:
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Serious illness of the employee or immediate family member
- Organ donation
(Federal family medical leave is different.
Leave for Victims of Violence, Assault, Sexual Assault or Stalking
Must be allowed upon request if an employee (or a child, parent or spouse of an employee) is a victim of violence, assault, sexual assault or stalking
or any act that would support an order for protection under MRSA, Title 19-A, chapter 101 and needs the time to::
- Prepare for and attend court proceedings; or
- Receive medical treatment; or
- Obtain necessary services to remedy crisis.
Mandatory Overtime
Most employers may not require employees to work more than 80 hours of overtime in any consecutive 2-week period. A nurse who has worked 12 consecutive hours may not be disciplined for refusing to work additional hours and must be allowed at least 10 hours off after working 12 hours. (There are exceptions to this law.)
Note: Maine employers may also be covered under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

At-Will Employment - Under Maine law, an at-will employee may be terminated for any reason not specifically prohibited by law. In most instances, you are an at-will employee unless you are covered by a collective bargaining agreement or other contract that limits termination. If you have questions about at-will employment, contact your human resources department or the Bureau of Labor Standards.