HTML Preview General Employment Law Factsheet page number 1.
General Employment Laws and Resources
Michael McArdle
Director of Labor
Peter Wingate
Labor Standards
Administrator
John Hickenlooper
Governor
Ellen Golombek
Executive Director
Civil Rights
dora.state.co.us/
civil-rights
303-894-2997
Department of
Labor &
Employment
colorado.gov/cdle 303-318-8000
Division of Labor
colorado.gov/cdle/
labor
303-318-8441
Revenue
colorado.gov/
revenue
303-238-7378
Unemployment colorado.gov/cdle/ 303-318-9000
Workers’
Compensation
colorado.gov/cdle/
dwc
303-318-8700
STATE AGENCIES
Colorado Workforce Centers provide easy access to a
wide array of employment and training services and job
opportunities in Colorado.
Information: www.colorado.gov/cdle/workforce
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
It is a discriminatory or unfair employment
practice for an employer in Colorado to terminate
the employment of any employee due to that
employee’s engaging in any lawful activity off
the premises of the employer during nonworking
hours, unless such a restriction either:
1. Relates to a bona fide occupational
requirement OR
2. Is necessary to avoid a conflict of interest
with any responsibilities to the employer or
the appearance of such a conflict of interest.
Information: Contact an attorney.
OFF-DUTY ACTIVITIES
Employees who have 3 or more non-work
hours available during the hours polls are
open (typically 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) on
election day are not entitled to time off to
vote.
Upon prior request (before election day) by
the employee, employers must provide up to
2 hours of paid time off to vote if the
employee does not have 3 or more non-work
hours between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The Secretary of State oversees elections.
Information: www.elections.colorado.gov
VOTING AND PAY
All regularly employed trial or grand jurors
shall be paid regular wages, but not to exceed
$50 per day unless by mutual agreement
between the employee and employer, by their
employers for the first 3 days of juror service
or any part thereof.
State law protects a juror’s job; an employer
shall not threaten, coerce, or discharge an
employee for reporting for juror service as
summoned.
Information: www.courts.state.co.us
JURY DUTY AND PAY
Colorado law states that any employer who
provides information about a current or former
employee’s job history or job performance to a
prospective employer of the current or former
employee is immune from civil liability and is
not liable in civil damages for the disclosure or
any consequences of the disclosure.
This immunity shall not apply when
:
1. The information disclosed by the current or
former employer was false AND
2. The employer providing the information
knew or reasonably should have known that
the information was false.
Information: Contact an attorney.
EMPLOYMENT REFERENCES
The Colorado UI Program provides temporary and
partial wage replacement to workers who have become
unemployed through no fault of their own.
Information: www.colorado.gov/cdle
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
The Division of Workers’ Compensation administers
the mandatory WC insurance program.
Information: www.colorado.gov/cdle/dwc
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Small claims courts in Colorado are a division of
the county court system designed to provide a
quick and inexpensive resolution to minor
claims. Small claims courts are courts of limited
jurisdiction; the court cannot award more than
$7,500 in monetary awards.
Information: www.courts.state.co.us
SMALL CLAIMS COURT
Information on occupational wages, employment
statistics, and labor force trends is available from
Colorado Labor Market Information.
Information: lmigateway.coworkforce.com/
lmigateway
LABOR MARKET INFORMATION
The Colorado Civil Rights Division handles claims of
discrimination in employment, housing, and public
accommodations in Colorado.
Information: www.dora.state.co.us/civil-rights
DISCRIMINATION
Bankruptcy cob.uscourts.gov 720-904-7300
DOL dol.gov 720-264-3250
EEOC eeoc.gov 303-866-1300
Immigration uscis.gov 800-375-5283
IRS irs.gov 800-TAX-1040
NLRB nlrb.gov 303-844-3551
OSHA osha.gov 303-844-5285
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Employees may have a higher priority in
bankruptcy than other creditors. If your
employer has filed for bankruptcy you will need
to contact the appropriate bankruptcy court to
enter a claim.
The Division cannot assist in disputes when the
employer has filed for bankruptcy.
Information: www.cob.uscourts.gov
EMPLOYER BANKRUPTCY
Holiday Pay
Colorado wage law does not require nor prohibit any
paid holidays. When an employee is paid for a non-work
holiday, the holiday hours do not count towards
overtime unless actual work was performed.
Sick Pay
Colorado wage law does not require nor prohibit sick
pay or leave. Colorado wage law does not require
employers to provide paid leave due to illness.
Severance Pay
Colorado wage law does not require nor prohibit
severance pay. Severance pay is a benefit offered by
employers at their own discretion.
Medical or Pregnancy Leave
Colorado does not have a medical or pregnancy leave
law that applies to the private sector.
Domestic Abuse Leave
Employees in Colorado may request or take up to 3
working days of leave from work in any 12-month
period, with or without pay, if the employee is the victim
of domestic abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or other
crimes related to domestic abuse.
This leave law applies only to employers who employ 50
or more employees and to employees who have been
employed with the employer for 12+ months.
Information: Contact an attorney.
WORK LEAVE
Colorado follows the legal doctrine of “employment-at-will”, which provides that employers and employees have an at-will relationship either of them may
terminate at any time without advance notice or cause unless the employee is hired for a definite period of time or there is an agreement limiting the reasons for
discharge. There are many exceptions to employment-at-will, including various exceptions created by the legislature and the courts such as discrimination, public
policy, and contract law. Contact an attorney for more information.
EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL
This complimentary guide is provided by the Colorado Division of Labor. Its condensed and simplified content is for general informational
purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice. For more information contact the Division, an attorney, or an HR professional.
Guide Revised February 2011
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Division of Labor
633 17th Street, Suite 200 • Denver, CO 80202-3611 • (303) 318-8441 • www.colorado.gov/cdle/labor