Essential Employment Laws Every Single Employee And Worker Should Know
Workers rights are there for a good reason and if you encounter a difficult and challenging scenario where you have to fight to save your job or get the compensation you deserve, it pays to know where you stand.
You can’t be expected to be as well-versed on employment laws as a lawyer who deals with these matters on a daily basis but if you know some of the key basics it can help you understand what you need to do when a situation arises.
Health and safety standards at work are vital
One of the main things to remember is that there are various laws and acts that exist in order to ensure that certain standards are met in the workplace.
One of the most widely recognized of these employment rights is The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).
OHSA has been in existence for almost 50 years and it provides a framework of rules and regulations that are designed to ensure that workers are allowed to carry out their duties in a safe environment.
Although you would expect OSHA to be more applicable to industrial environments where machinery and chemicals can pose significant threats, white-collar workers are also protected with issues such as ergonomic standards being covered by the act.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with health and safety standards in your industry and see if your employer is following the rules and giving you the right training to keep you safe.
A fair chance for everyone
It could be argued that one of the most important pieces of legislation in employment law history is the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The act is designed to provide equal opportunities and protection in the workplace, meaning that employers are not allowed to discriminate when hiring or firing their employees.
There are various additions and amendments to the act but it is still the core legislation that so many employment lawyers refer to when taking action.
When you are too ill to work
Life can be unpredictable and there is always the possibility that you might suffer an accident or illness that prevents you from working, either for a short while or over a much longer period of time.
In comparison to some of the other acts that have been around for many decades the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is relatively new, having been signed into law back in 1993.
The act gives you certain rights when it comes to taking medical leave and if you are unfortunate enough to suffer a long-term medical issue, you might find that this piece of legislation becomes very important to you.
Ensuring fair working conditions
Another important level of protection for employees comes in the form of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
You can get more general information relating to employment law issues at https://www.wmlawyers.com/california-employment-law/ and it may be the case that the FLSA is a piece of legislation that is called upon to help you get the right treatment from your employer.
Poor working conditions and low wages are just two of the issues that are designed to be covered by this act.
If you get to know a bit more about these four cornerstones of employment law it might just help you to resolve an issue at your place of work.
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