Mississippi Fair Hiring Laws

Various laws are in effect that impact employment, including some that dictate the regulations around recruiting and hiring new employees. Review our detailed guide to fair hiring laws in Mississippi and how they differ from federal regulations.

What Are Fair Hiring Laws?

Fair hiring laws are regulations administered federally by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Department of Labor (DOL). They apply across all states in the U.S., although some states have stricter laws in place. More than 180 laws cover workplace activities, protecting more than 165 million workers. Some of these related to the process of recruiting and hiring new employees.

What Are “Ban-the-Box” Laws?

Ban-the-box laws limit when an employer can ask about a candidate’s criminal history during the hiring process. The term refers to eliminating the box that must be checked on a traditional application when the individual has such a record.

Mississippi does not have a ban-the-box law in effect.

Does Mississippi Have Fair Hiring Laws That Differ from Federal Fair Hiring Laws?

Most of the laws pertaining to fair hiring practices in Mississippi align with federal standards. The state also has no anti-discrimination agency, so any complaints must be filed with the agencies over the federal laws.

Do Mississippi Hiring Laws Match or Differ from the Federal Equal Pay Act (EPA)?

The Mississippi Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, which went into effect July 1, 2022, prohibits employers from paying different wages to employees doing substantially similar work based on sex. Wage differences based on other factors (including negotiation, salary history, competition, and continuity of employment history) are allowed. The law applies to employers with 5+ employees and only impacts employees working 40+ hours per week.

Do Mississippi Hiring Laws Match or Differ from the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)?

Since Mississippi has no state-level age-based discrimination law, the federal ADEA applies.

Do Mississippi Hiring Laws Match or Differ from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

Mississippi follows the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Do Mississippi Hiring Laws Match or Differ from the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)?

There is no state law in place, so the federal GINA applies.

Do Mississippi Hiring Laws Match or Differ from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Mississippi follows Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Are There Different Fair Hiring Laws in Cities or Municipalities Across Mississippi?

No, there are no city- or municipality-level laws that differ from statewide or federal fair hiring laws.

With the right tools, ensuring fairness when recruiting and hiring doesn’t have to cause problems. Learn more about the applicant tracking capabilities built into WorkforceHub, like automation of data tracking and reporting for valuable insights. We can help your business maintain compliance with fair hiring regulations.