Mississippi Employment Law

Mississippi has no general state employment discrimination statute. The weakest state for employment protections. Only protects military status. Private employees rely almost entirely on federal law. Non-deferral state.

At-Will

Yes

Right-to-Work

Yes

EEOC Deferral

180 days

Min. Wage

$7.25

Mississippi State Laws (1)

MS Emp. Protection Act

Miss. Code Ann. § 71-1-47

— days
1+ employees

Mississippi has the weakest state employment discrimination protections in the nation. The state has NO general employment discrimination statute. The Mississippi Employment Protection Act is extremely limited and only prohibits discrimination based on military duty status. Private-sector employees in Mississippi rely almost entirely on federal law for employment discrimination protections. Mississippi does not have a state Fair Employment Practices agency, making it a non-deferral state with a 180-day EEOC filing deadline.

Protected Classes

military duty status

Key Provisions

  • ✓Prohibits discrimination against employees based on military duty status only
  • ✓No general prohibition on discrimination based on race, sex, age, disability, or other protected classes at the state level
  • ✓No state Fair Employment Practices agency exists to receive or investigate discrimination complaints
  • ✓Non-deferral state: EEOC filing deadline is 180 days rather than 300 days
  • ✓Employees must rely on federal statutes (Title VII, ADA, ADEA, etc.) for employment discrimination claims

Remedies

ReinstatementBack payLost benefits
File with: None (no state administrative agency)No state administrative filing; EEOC deadline is 180 days (non-deferral state)

Federal Laws That Apply in Mississippi

These federal statutes protect workers nationwide, including in Mississippi. Mississippi is a non-deferral state — the EEOC filing deadline is 180 days.

Title VII15+ employees
180 days
ADA15+ employees
180 days
ADEA20+ employees
180 days
EPA1+ employees
730 days
PDA15+ employees
180 days
PWFA15+ employees
180 days
FMLA50+ employees
730 days
FLSA1+ employees
730 days
Section 19811+ employees
1460 days
GINA15+ employees
180 days
USERRA1+ employees
— days
NLRA1+ employees
180 days
OSH Act1+ employees
30 days
WARN Act100+ employees
— days
Rehabilitation Act1+ employees
180 days
SOX Section 8061+ employees
180 days
INA Section 1324b4+ employees
180 days

Check which laws apply to your situation in Mississippi

Our free assessment identifies applicable federal, state, and local protections based on your specific circumstances.

Check My Rights

This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.Mississippi laws are subject to legislative changes. Consult a qualified employment attorney in Mississippi for advice about your specific situation. Last reviewed: February 2025.