The state bird of Pennsylvania is the ruffed grouse, and the state flower is the mountain laurel.
Payroll and Benefits Guide - United States - Pennsylvania
Fun Facts
Hershey, Pennsylvania, is known as the “Chocolate Capital of the United States” and is home to the Hershey Company, famous for its chocolate products.
Pennsylvania has a rich history in steel production and was once a leading producer of steel in the United States.
The state motto of Pennsylvania is “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence.”
Pennsylvania is home to the Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American independence, located in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania is known as the “Keystone State” because of its central location among the original 13 colonies, resembling a keystone in an arch.
Contributions
Employee Payroll Tax
| Contribution Type | Rate |
| Unemployment | 20.06% |
| FICA Social Security | 6.20% |
| FICA Medicare | 1.45% |
| Additional tax | 0.90% |
Employer Payroll Tax
| Contribution Type | Rate |
| Unemployment Insurance | 1.42% – 10.37% |
| Unemployment- New Employer | 3.82% |
| FICA Social Security | 6.20% |
| FICA Medicare | 1.45% |
| FUTA | 0.60% -6.00% |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
Employees are paid semi-monthly and monthly.
13th Salary
There are no provisions in the law regarding 13th salaries.
Work Hours and Week
The workweek is a maximum of 40 hours per week or 8 hours per day.
Overtime
Pennsylvania adheres to the Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA), and work in excess of 40 hours per week is considered overtime and paid at the rate of 150% of the regular pay. If employees are scheduled to work on weekends or rest days, no additional payment is required.
Leave
Paid Time Off
Pennsylvania does not have any state laws that govern paid leave. However, it is common for employers to decide whether to offer paid or unpaid vacation leave.
Public Holidays
There are 12 public holidays.
Sick Days
It is common for an employer to follow the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) which provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons (maternity leave, serious illnesses, or if the employee needs to care for a spouse or child).
Maternity Leave
Maternity leave falls under the FMLA and Pregnancy Discrimination (Family and Medical Leave Act.)
Paternity Leave
Paternity leave falls under the FMLA .
Parental Leave
Parental leave falls under the FMLA.
Termination
Termination Process
Except in mass dismissals or as provided for in an employment contract or a collective bargaining agreement, U.S. law does not impose a formal notice period to terminate an individual employment relationship, and employment is stipulated as “at will.”
Notice Period
In Pennsylvania, most employees are employed at will, and either party can terminate the employment relationship without notice.
Severance Pay
Except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or collective bargaining agreement, employers are not required to make severance payments to terminated employees.
Probation Period
Probation Period
No legal provision governs a formal trial or probation period. However, it is common practice for employers to set a performance evaluation after an initially stated period of employment of 90 days.
VISA
VISA
Foreign nationals without permanent resident status or a work visa are not permitted to work in the United States.
VAT
Pennsylvania has a set sales tax rate of 6%, however, in some counties and cities, the sales tax may vary (i.e. Allegheny County is an additional 1% and purchases made in Philadelphia is an extra 2.00%).