The Arkansas Labor Law Guide

Minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate that employers are legally obligated to pay employees. While the federal minimum wage serves as a baseline, different states, cities, and regions can adopt their own higher rates.

The current rate is: $11.00 per hour for most employees.

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Tipped minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate employers are legally obligated to pay nonexempt employees who earn a significant portion of their income through tips. 

The current rate is: $2.63 per hour for most employees. 

The tips earned must be enough to bring them up to the applicable hourly minimum wage. Employers are responsible if this is not the case.

In Arkansas, non-exempt employees who work over 40 hours per workweek are entitled to overtime pay. 

Most nonexempt employees receive overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Arkansas wage and hour laws do not require employers to provide meal or rest breaks to their employees unless they are children under the age of 16 and employed in the entertainment industry. See more details on Child Labor Laws below. 

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Vacation leave

Arkansas does not require employers to provide paid time off to their employees. The employer can choose to offer vacation leave at their discretion.

Paid Sick Leave

Arkansas law does not require private employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave.

Holidays

Arkansas does not require employers to provide their employees with paid or unpaid holiday leave. Employers can choose to offer holiday leave at their discretion.

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General rules & work permits (including minors under 14) 

In Arkansas, state and federal laws govern the hours and types of work permitted for minors. Crucially, as of August 1, 2023, Arkansas no longer requires general child labor work permits for minors to be employed.

• Entertainment industry exception: the only exception to the permit elimination is the entertainment industry. No child 16 years of age or younger may be employed in the entertainment industry without an entertainment work permit issued by the Director.

Laws for minors under 16 years old (14- and 15-year-olds) 

An employer cannot employ a child under the age of 16 for:

• More than 8 hours in any day.

• More than 48 hours in any week.

• More than 6 days in any week.

• Before 6:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. 

• Exception: on nights preceding non-school days, minors under 16 may work until 9:00 p.m.

Laws for minors under 17 years-old (16-year-olds) 

An employer cannot employ, permit, or suffer a 16-year-old child to work:

• More than 10 consecutive hours in any day.

• More than 10 hours in any 24-hour period.

• More than 54 hours in any week.

• More than 6 days in any week.

• Before 6:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m.

• Exceptions for non-school days: 16-year-olds may work until 12:00 midnight on nights preceding non-school days. Furthermore, they may work between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. on nights preceding non-school days, provided the work is not otherwise prohibited by state or federal law and they are not working in restricted circumstances (including, but not limited to: businesses serving alcohol, establishments lacking direct adult supervision, as a delivery person, or at truck stops/service stations).

Hiring
The Arkansas Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on the following:

• Race

• Religion

• Gender

• National original

• Disability

• Age (40 or older)

• Pregnancy

• Genetic information

• Military or veteran status 

Firing
Arkansas supports “at-will” employment laws. All Arkansas employers have the right to terminate employees at will for nearly any reason and no reason at all provided it is not discriminatory, retaliatory, or otherwise unlawful.