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More Employees Equals More Responsibilities

We at MVF are dedicated to investing in growing Maine companies. Many of these companies only have five or fewer employees at the time of our initial investment, though they frequently grow to more than twenty. This is of course great and indeed part of our mission; to back companies that will be successful and thereby flourish and create well paying, rewarding jobs for Maine citizens! As companies grow, it is crucial employers be aware of the obligations they have to their employees.

Employment laws applicable to Maine employers change drastically depending on the number of employees in a company. For example, at fifteen employees, companies must abide by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maine Family Medical Leave Law, and the Maine Family Military Leave Law. Also at fifteen employees, employers must provide sexual harassment training to all employees within one year of their commencement. As companies grow they must be aware of and comply with heightened responsibilities to their employees.

Thanks to our friends at Verrill Dana, as an employer you don’t need to be in the dark. The firm has put together an incredibly helpful list of Maine employment laws broken down by number of employees.

Another useful resource for Maine employers recently became available through #MaineCanDo. Their website has a variety of tools for small businesses that will help create a productive and respectful work environment for employees. These tools will also help insure your business practices are legally sound. You can find more information and their online tools here.

Both of these resources are great places to start to get an idea of the increased employer responsibilities that come along with a growing workforce, however, it’s not a substitute for personalized legal advice from an employment attorney. These resources will help keep you informed as your company continues to grow.

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