The 10 Weirdest HR-Related Laws Across the U.S.

If you work in HR, you’ve probably seen it all, from coworker feuds sparked by microwave etiquette to PTO requests written entirely in emojis and job applicants who list their moms as references. But just when you think the workplace can’t get any weirder, along comes the strange laws. Hidden among the serious regulations are some truly bizarre rules that sound more like sitcom plots than actual legal statutes. And yes, they’re real.

Here’s a roundup of some of the strangest HR-related laws still floating around the U.S. From outdated ordinances to oddly specific mandates, these strange laws prove that even HR compliance can be unintentionally hilarious.

1. In Virginia, a Spiteful Review Could Land You in Court 

In Virginia, your bad performance review might not just sting; it could be considered slander. The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that if a manager gets creative with the truth in a performance evaluation and does it out of spite, that could count as defamation. 

So, if your boss says you’re "incompetent" just because you forgot to refill the office coffee, you might have a case.

2. Alabama Once Banned Beards for State Employees

Until relatively recently, Alabama had strict grooming rules that prohibited facial hair for certain public employees unless they had a medical exemption. 

The regulation was originally aimed at ensuring proper fit for gas masks (seriously), but it stuck around long enough to feel like a strange power move. While it’s no longer enforced, it serves as a hairy reminder that HR policies once dictated facial hair.

3. California’s Same-Day Final Paycheck Rule

In California, when you fire someone, you must hand them their final paycheck right then and there. No grace period, no “we’ll get it to you Monday,” just instant payout. Miss that window, and the clock starts ticking, with daily penalties stacking up to 30 days. There are some exceptions, but basically, if you ghost your ex-employee’s paycheck, the law makes you pay for it. Literally.

4. You Can’t Fire Smokers in Some States (Even if You Want To)

Multiple states protect smokers’ employment under state law, even if they’re puffing away on their own time. Employers cannot refuse to hire or fire someone solely because they use tobacco products off the clock. 

For HR teams, this means workplace wellness programs have to walk a very fine line. You can encourage nicotine patches all you want, but fire someone over a Marlboro and you're breaking the law.

5. In California, You Don’t Have to Stand For That

In California, standing all day isn’t just exhausting — it is also illegal. State law says if you can reasonably do your job sitting, your employer has to provide a chair. So if you’ve been hustling behind a counter while a perfectly good stool gathers dust in the back, it’s time to sit down and stand up for your rights.

6. In Louisiana, It’s Illegal to Send a Pizza Delivery Without Someone’s Consent

Technically this is an anti-prank law, but if a Louisiana workplace “celebrates” employee birthdays or accomplishments with anonymous pizza or other food deliveries, you may be violating criminal statutes and could face a fine of $500. HR: Please confirm your pepperoni is authorized.

7. Dress Code Drama: No Sagging Pants in Florida City Buildings

In parts of Florida, sagging pants aren’t just a fashion faux pas — they once were actually a municipal offense. Although they have since been officially repealed, cities like Ocala and Opa-locka once passed ordinances banning low-riding trousers in public buildings. That means an HR professional working in a city office not only had to enforce the company dress code but also the local pants law. 

8. In South Carolina, You Can’t Swear Near a Corpse, Even on the Job

In South Carolina, dropping an f-bomb near the dearly departed isn’t just bad manners; it’s actually a misdemeanor. According to state law, using “obscene or profane language” in the presence of a dead body can land you in legal trouble. This is one of those antiquated laws that still technically exists, and while it may not be enforced often, it adds a whole new layer to HR onboarding in funeral homes, pathology labs, and medical examiner offices.

Imagine training new employees and having to say, “Along with OSHA compliance and confidentiality protocols, please also refrain from swearing around the bodies. Yes, even if the toe tags are wrong again. Yes, it’s an actual law.”

9. In Wisconsin, It’s Illegal to Serve Margarine in State Facilities

Yes, really. True to its dairy-loving persona, Wisconsin prohibits serving margarine as a butter substitute in state-run facilities like prisons, schools, and hospitals unless there’s a doctor’s note or a special exemption. 

While not your typical HR policy, it technically impacts cafeteria planning and procurement in government-run workplaces. So if your employee wellness initiative includes cutting dairy fat, don’t expect the break room to go dairy-free without a legal workaround. HR might need to coordinate with Procurement and Legal to update the snack bar.

10. South Carolina: At-Will Employment Disclaimers Must Be Bold and Underlined

In South Carolina, for an at-will employment disclaimer to be legally enforceable, it must be printed in bold, underlined, capital letters on the cover page of the employee handbook. This specific formatting requirement ensures that employees are adequately informed about their at-will status, because IT DEFINITELY STANDS OUT!

Final Thoughts

Sure, HR is about policies, compliance, and keeping the workplace running smoothly—but it’s also apparently about outlawing margarine, regulating chairs, and policing pants. These strange laws — some still on the books, others relics of an even weirder past — prove that HR isn’t just paperwork and PTO requests. Sometimes, it’s dodging defamation lawsuits over bad reviews or making sure no one curses near a corpse.

These laws may be outdated, oddly specific, or hyper-local, but they remind us of the strange intersections between legal compliance and daily work life. So the next time someone asks if HR is boring, just tell them about illegal surprise pizza parties and beard bans. While most HR-related rules may seem mundane, you’re actually navigating history, folklore, and the legal remnants of America’s weirdest employment moments.