- "Employment discrimination law in the United States derives from the common law..."
Learning about employment law, including discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, and workplace safety laws.
The employment relationship: Understanding the legal relationship between employers and employees, including the different types of employment arrangements such as full-time, part-time, and casual employment.
Discrimination and harassment: Knowing what constitutes discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and how to ensure that these behaviors are prevented and addressed.
Hiring and recruiting: Understanding the legal framework for hiring and recruiting employees, including best practices for interviewing, background checks, and employment contracts.
Wage and hour laws: Familiarizing oneself with the various federal and state laws governing wages, overtime pay, and employee benefits.
Workplace health and safety: Understanding the legal requirements for ensuring a safe and healthy workplace, including compliance with OSHA regulations and workers' compensation.
Termination and severance: Knowing the legal requirements for terminating employees, and ensuring that employers provide adequate severance packages and follow due process in the termination process.
Privacy and data protection: Understanding the legal requirements for employers to protect employee privacy and data, including compliance with HIPAA and other regulations.
Whistleblowing and retaliation: Knowing the legal protections for employees who speak out about workplace misconduct or illegal behavior, and understanding how to prevent retaliation against whistleblowers.
Unions and collective bargaining: Understanding the legal framework for unions and collective bargaining, and knowing how to navigate relationships with labor organizations.
Employment contracts and agreements: Learning the basics of employment contracts and agreements, including the various types of agreements and the legal requirements for enforcing them.
Discrimination Law: Laws that protect employees against discrimination in the workplace on the basis of age, gender, race, or other factors.
Wage and Hour Laws: Laws that govern the payment of wages and the hours of work for employees.
Health and Safety Laws: Laws that require employers to provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees.
Retirement and Pension Laws: Laws that regulate employer-sponsored retirement and pension plans.
Workers’ Compensation Laws: Laws that require employers to provide compensation to employees who are injured or become ill on the job.
Family and Medical Leave Laws: Laws that require employers to provide eligible employees with time off for the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a sick family member.
Wrongful Termination Laws: Laws that protect employees against being fired for reasons that violate their legal rights.
Employment Contract Laws: Laws that govern the terms and conditions of employment contracts, including compensation, benefits, and job duties.
Labor Relations Laws: Laws that regulate the relationship between employers and labor unions, including collective bargaining and strikes.
Immigration Laws: Laws that regulate the hiring and employment of foreign workers.
- "Employment discrimination law in the United States... is codified in numerous state, federal, and local laws."
- "These laws prohibit discrimination based on certain characteristics or 'protected categories.'"
- "The United States Constitution also prohibits discrimination by federal and state governments against their public employees."
- "Discrimination in the private sector is not directly constrained by the Constitution..."
- "...but has become subject to a growing body of federal and state law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."
- "Federal law prohibits discrimination in a number of areas, including recruiting, hiring, job evaluations, promotion policies, training, compensation and disciplinary action."
- "State laws often extend protection to additional categories or employers."
- "Under federal employment discrimination law, employers generally cannot discriminate against employees on the basis of race, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability (physical or mental, including status), age (for workers over 40), military service or affiliation, bankruptcy or bad debts, genetic information, and citizenship status..."
- "disability (physical or mental, including status)"
- "age (for workers over 40)"
- "military service or affiliation"
- "bankruptcy or bad debts"
- "citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents, refugees, and asylees"
- "sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)"
- "genetic information"
- "religion"
- "These laws prohibit discrimination based on certain characteristics or 'protected categories.'"
- "pregnancy"
- "State laws often extend protection to additional categories or employers."