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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 (1)

LA Emp. Discrim. Law

La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:301-23:369

365 days
20+ employees

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

age (40+)racecolorreligionsexdisabilitynational originpregnancychildbirthsickle cell traitgenetic information

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

Back payFront payCompensatory damagesReinstatementAttorney fees and costsInjunctive relief
File with: Direct filing in court (no state administrative agency)1 year (prescriptive period to file in state court); 180-day EEOC deadline (non-deferral state)

Local Ordinances in Louisiana (1)

New Orleans

New Orleans HRO

New Orleans Municipal Code Ch. 86

180 days
1+ employees

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

racecolorreligionsexsexual orientationgender identitynational originancestryagedisability

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.

Title VII15+ employees
180 days
ADA15+ employees
180 days
ADEA20+ employees
180 days
EPA1+ employees
730 days
PDA15+ employees
180 days
PWFA15+ employees
180 days
FMLA50+ employees
730 days
FLSA1+ employees
730 days
Section 19811+ employees
1460 days
GINA15+ employees
180 days
USERRA1+ employees
— days
NLRA1+ employees
180 days
OSH Act1+ employees
30 days
WARN Act100+ employees
— days
Rehabilitation Act1+ employees
180 days
SOX Section 8061+ employees
180 days
INA Section 1324b4+ employees
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 Rights

This 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.