Understanding Your Rights: A Guide to Employee Protections in Colorado
Although it’s easy to think of your boss as untouchable, employers don’t have total power over their workers. Labor laws in Colorado and at the federal level give employees inherent rights, regardless of the type of work and the status of their employer. Understanding your legal rights as an employee can help you identify when an employer has violated them.
If you suspect an employer has violated your rights under employment or labor laws, contact an employment attorney in Denver to take action.
What Rights Do Employees Have Under Employment and Labor Laws in Colorado?
As an employee, you have several inherent legal rights, no matter what your employer says. Certain employees have rights beyond these basic ones. For example, according to your employment contract and status, you may have the right to a certain amount of overtime pay, medical leave, and maternity leave. Review your contract with an employment attorney to fully understand your rights.
These are just a few of the rights all employees have in the state of Colorado.
The Right to Minimum Wage
Employees have the right to make at least the minimum wage in Colorado, which is $14.81 in 2025. Several locales throughout Colorado have higher minimum wages:
- Denver City/County: $18.81
- City of Edgewater: $16.52
- Boulder County (unincorporated areas): $16.57
- City of Boulder: $15.57
These minimums are slightly lower when employees also receive tip credits, which should bring them up to the minimum wage.
Employers who pay less than the minimum wage are committing wage theft, which is illegal under Colorado law.
The Right to Breaks and Rest Periods
Under Colorado labor laws, employees who work more than five hours in a row have the right to a 30-minute unpaid meal break. During this break, they should be relieved of all duties; if they cannot be relieved, they must receive payment.
Employees also have the right to a 10-minute paid rest break for every four hours they work. If your employer refuses to give you any breaks during a shift, they may be violating Colorado state labor laws.
The Right to Freedom From Discrimination
The Colorado Job Protection and Civil Rights Act of 2013 protects employees against discrimination in the workplace. An employer cannot discriminate against you based on the following:
- Age
- Gender
- Race
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
- Religion
- Marital status
If you believe an employer has chosen not to hire you, has fired you, or has otherwise limited your job opportunities due to one of these factors, they may be liable for discrimination. Bringing a case against them could allow you to keep your job or even gain compensation.
The Right to Workers’ Compensation
Employee rights also extend to compensation for injuries or illnesses that occur on the job. In Colorado, any employer with one or more employees working for them must always maintain workers’ compensation insurance.
Workers’ compensation provides medical and lost wage benefits. An accident does not have to be your employer’s fault for you to collect workers’ comp. Virtually any injury or illness that happens while you are completing regular job duties should qualify.
The Right to Certain Protections for Youth Employment
The legal working age in Colorado is 14, but the Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act provides certain protections to workers under 18. For example:
- Minors may only work up to 40 hours per week or eight hours in any 24-hour period
- Employees under 16 cannot work during school hours except with approval
- Minors should receive at least 85% of the full Colorado minimum wage or higher under some circumstances
- Minors cannot work in the marijuana industry or sell, dispense, or serve alcoholic beverages
If an employer violates any of these laws, they may be fined or owe damages to the employee.
The Right To Discuss Your Wages
Employers often do not want employees to discuss wages among themselves for fear of discovering wage discrepancies. Even if your employer tries to prohibit these discussions, you do not have to comply.
You have the legal right to talk about wages as much as you want to without being penalized. Doing so can ensure that your employer is paying you fairly and not giving special treatment to certain workers.
The Right to Safely Report Employer Wrongdoings
Many employees know that their bosses have violated Colorado employment or labor laws. And yet, they fear the consequences of reporting this behavior, choosing to keep quiet to protect their jobs.
Employer retaliation is illegal under Colorado law. You have the right to report violations without fearing negative consequences. If an employer retaliates after you report their behavior, you can report the retaliation and seek compensation.
What If an Employer Violates Your Rights?
If an employer has violated labor laws in Colorado, report their behavior to the appropriate state department.
For labor law violations, fill out a Labor Standards Complaint Form through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, which will investigate the claim and determine whether your employer’s actions were unlawful. Meanwhile, if an employer has discriminated against you, contact the Colorado Civil Rights Division to report this action.
If the state department finds that an employer violated your rights, the employer may face fines and other penalties. They may also need to reinstate your job or otherwise make up for the mistreatment.
An employment attorney can represent you during any subsequent proceedings and help protect your rights. They can also help collect evidence of your employer’s wrongdoing to strengthen your case.
Let Thomas N. Scheffel & Associates, P.C., Protect Your Rights
Finding out that an employer has acted unlawfully toward you can be scary. You may fear repercussions for reporting their behavior, but you do not want to work in a hostile environment or give up your job, either.
At Thomas N. Scheffel & Associates, P.C., we help Colorado employees understand and protect their rights. During an initial consultation, we will listen to your story and guide you through the next steps.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation regarding a violation of labor laws in Colorado.