Do anti-discrimination laws apply to small businesses?
If you have a really small business — with only one to three employees — you do not have to worry about the vast majority of anti-discrimination laws. The major exception to this general rule is the federal Equal Pay Act, which applies to virtually all employers, regardless of size. For a description of the Equal Pay Act, see The Equal Pay Act in Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws. In addition, there might be a local ordinance or state law that does apply to you (although the majority of these laws applies only to employers with five or more employees). To investigate your state and local laws, contact your local office of the Small Business Administration (http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov), your state fair employment office or your state department of labor.
