Louisiana Employment Law
Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law covers employers with 20+ employees. Non-deferral state with no state FEP agency; employees file directly in state court with a 1-year deadline.
At-Will
Yes
Right-to-Work
Yes
EEOC Deferral
180 days
Min. Wage
$7.25
Louisiana State Laws (7)
LA Emp. Discrim. Law
La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:301-23:369
The Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law prohibits employment discrimination based on age (40+), race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, pregnancy, childbirth, sickle cell trait, and genetic information. Unlike most states, Louisiana does not have a state Fair Employment Practices (FEP) agency, making it a non-deferral state with a 180-day EEOC filing deadline. Employees must file claims directly in state district court within a one-year prescriptive period. The law applies to employers with 20 or more employees for most claims.
Protected Classes
Key Provisions
- ✓Prohibits discrimination based on age (40+), race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, pregnancy, childbirth, sickle cell trait, and genetic information
- ✓No state FEP agency - employees file directly in state district court
- ✓Non-deferral state: EEOC filing deadline is 180 days rather than the extended 300 days
- ✓Includes unique protection for sickle cell trait
- ✓One-year prescriptive period for filing in state court
Remedies
LA Environmental Whistleblower
La. Rev. Stat. § 30:2027
Prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report or threaten to report environmental violations to a public body, or who refuse to perform work that would violate environmental laws.
Protected Classes
Key Provisions
- ✓Prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report or threaten to report environmental violations to a public body, or who refuse to perform work that would violate environmental laws.
Remedies
LA Pregnancy Discrimination Lactation
La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:341, 23:342
Requires private and public employers with 25+ employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, including lactation accommodations and break time.
Protected Classes
Key Provisions
- ✓Requires private and public employers with 25+ employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, including lactation accommodations and break time.
Remedies
LA Sickle-Cell Trait Employment
La. Rev. Stat. § 23:352
Prohibits employers from refusing to hire or otherwise discriminating against any person solely because that person possesses sickle-cell trait.
Protected Classes
Key Provisions
- ✓Prohibits employers from refusing to hire or otherwise discriminating against any person solely because that person possesses sickle-cell trait.
Remedies
LA Wage Payment
La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:631 to 23:632
Requires employers to pay all wages owed to a discharged or resigning employee within 15 days of separation or by the next regular payday, whichever is earlier; provides penalty wages and attorney fees for late payment.
Protected Classes
Key Provisions
- ✓Requires employers to pay all wages owed to a discharged or resigning employee within 15 days of separation or by the next regular payday, whichever is earlier; provides penalty wages and attorney fees for late payment.
Remedies
LA Workers Compensation Retaliation
La. Rev. Stat. § 23:1361
Prohibits employers from discharging an employee because the employee asserted a claim for benefits under Louisiana's workers' compensation law.
Protected Classes
Key Provisions
- ✓Prohibits employers from discharging an employee because the employee asserted a claim for benefits under Louisiana's workers' compensation law.
Remedies
LA Whistleblower
La. Rev. Stat. § 23:967
Prohibits private-sector employers from retaliating against employees who in good faith disclose, advise, or testify about a workplace act or practice in violation of state law, or refuse to participate in such an act or practice.
Protected Classes
Key Provisions
- ✓Prohibits private-sector employers from retaliating against employees who in good faith disclose, advise, or testify about a workplace act or practice in violation of state law, or refuse to participate in such an act or practice.
Remedies
Local Ordinances in Louisiana (1)
New Orleans HRO
New Orleans Municipal Code Ch. 86
New Orleans's human rights ordinance is especially important because Louisiana has limited state-level employment anti-discrimination protections. The ordinance includes sexual orientation and gender identity protections and covers all employers with 1 or more employees.
Protected Classes
Federal Laws That Apply in Louisiana
These federal statutes protect workers nationwide, including in Louisiana. Louisiana is a non-deferral state — the EEOC filing deadline is 180 days.
Check which laws apply to your situation in Louisiana
Our free assessment identifies applicable federal, state, and local protections based on your specific circumstances.
Check My RightsThis information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.Louisiana laws are subject to legislative changes. Consult a qualified employment attorney in Louisiana for advice about your specific situation. Last reviewed: March 2026.