Employee Handbooks - Work Rules - Employee Conduct: Kentucky

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Emily N. Litzinger, Fisher Phillips

Summary

• Kentucky is an employment at-will state. When an employee signs and acknowledges an employee handbook, this does not generally create a contract of employment. Employers should avoid specific statements contained in handbooks regarding job security and should include a disclaimer. See At-Will Nature of Employment.

• Kentucky prohibits employers from maintaining anti-smoking policies that dictate or prohibit off work conduct, specifically a policy that would require, an employee as a condition of employment, to abstain from smoking or using tobacco products outside of the course of employment. See Employee Smoking.
• Kentucky employers are prohibited from requiring employees to pay for employer-required medical exams. See Medical Tests.
• Regulations also provide that an employer cannot maintain a policy that prohibits legally entitled emp loyees from possessing a firearm in a vehicle on its property. See Guns in the Workplace.
• Kentucky law mandates that employers provide employees a reasonable period for meal breaks during each shift. See Meal Breaks and Rest Periods.
• Certain uniformed city and county officers are statutorily provided protection to engage in a wide range of political activities. See Political Activity.
• Kentucky employers are prohibited from monitoring or recording conversations or telephone calls of employees without consent of at least one party. See Employee Privacy.
• Localities including Bardstown, Glasgow, and Madison County have requirements pertaining to work rules and employee conduct. See Local Requirements.