Find an Employment Law or Employee Lawyer

Also referred to as “labor law,” employment law governs all aspects of the relationship between an employer and employee. Affirmative action, discrimination, alien workers and visas, rights for disabled employees, personal leave, safety, racial discrimination, records retention and access, overtime compensation, recruiting, testing, discipline and the right to benefits coverage are among the top employment issues being regulated by a variety of federal and state laws. Some of the laws are longstanding; others are evolving because of new business practices and changes in lifestyles, manner of performing work, and the parties' expectations of each other. Many employment processes and procedures are handled by companies' human resources (HR) departments; this may include a combination of in-house managers, the technology of an HR information system, and even an outsourcing service provider. Even so, lawsuits are on the rise, particularly in the area of discrimination against employees who are over 40 years old; overweight; or are not of a preferred race, sexual orientation, religion, pregnancy or military status. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employees of companies with 15 or more employees and engaging in interstate commerce are protected from discrimination. Under Title VII, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was created to enforce employee rights. Subsequent federal laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act, and OSHA regulations for safety have been added to the employment law arena. Many state, local and industry regulations also govern the treatment of employees. Continued... By Kathleen Goolsby