Employment Law

Employment Law is the body of law dealing with the rights and obligations of employers and employees. Both State and Federal Laws govern areas from minimum wage, overtime pay, length of the workweek, employee benefits, workplace safety, discrimination, to unemployment, disability and worker’ compensation issues.

Additional labor laws relate to unions, collective bargaining, strikes and picketing.

Since 1912 employers in the United States have accepted an 8-hour workday. It was not until 1950 that Wages and Hours Act reduced the standard workweek from 44 to 40 hours. However, in some industries, workers such as those harvesting crops are permitted to work 72 hours per week, if they wish to do so. Child labor, common during the Industrial Revolution, is now virtually abolished in the U.S. State and Federal laws and regulation have greatly expanded over the years.

The Major Federal Laws that Protect Employees are:

Wages and Hours Act
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
ERISA Claims (Employee Retirement Income Security Act
FSLA (Fair Labor Standards Act)
FMLS Claims (Family and Medical Leave Act)
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Issues covered in the U.S. Employment Laws include, but are not limited to:

Employment Advertising
Workplace Testing
Wrongful Termination
Discrimination based on race, age, gender, religion, national origin or disability
Retaliation in the Workplace
Wage and Hour Irregularities
Privacy on Email and Voice Mail
Hostile Work Environment
Family and Medical Leave
On-the-Job Safety and Health
Health Insurance and Retirement Plans
Sexual Harassment
Unemployment, Disability and Workers' Compensation Insurance
Employment Contracts
Reduction in Workforce
Military Leave

An employee and his employer may work together to resolve employment-related problems. However, frequently conflicts arise which require sound legal advice and guidance to effectively resolve the problem. While many corporations and businesses have Human Resource departments and in-house legal counsel to assist them, an employee must seek the legal services of an employment law attorney to protect his rights. Because of ever-changing employment laws, employers and employees alike can benefit from the expertise of an employment law attorney.

Whether your employment law matter concerns sexual harassment, discrimination, a hostile work environment, retaliation in the workplace, wrongful termination, medical leave, a worker comp claim, or you need assistance negotiating severance and employment agreements, an attorney with experience in employment law can ensure that your rights are protected and forestall future problems.

Learn More About Employee Discrimination or Civil Rights