As an employer, you will have to follow a host of state and federal laws that regulate your relationship with your employees. Among the things you'll be expected to know and understand:

• Proper hiring practices, including how to conduct interviews and investigate job applicants without invading their privacy. (See Hiring Employees.)
• Wage and hour laws, including those governing the minimum wage, overtime, and compensatory time. (See Abiding by Wage and Hour Laws.)
• How to avoid harassment and discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including gender, age, race, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, and national origin. (See Preventing Discrimination in the Workplace.)
• The minimum requirements for sick, vacation, parental, and other types of employee leave. (See Providing Family and Medical Leave.)
• How to write an employee handbook, conduct performance reviews, and discipline employees. (See Personnel Policies and Practices.)
• How to fire an employee without trampling on his or her legal rights. (See Firing Employees.)
• How to protect your business and respect employees' rights when they leave. (See When Workers Leave.)
• What the law allows if you want to run a background check, do a workplace search, or monitor employee conduct. (See Privacy in the Workplace.)