EMPLOYMENT LAW

There are many laws that govern employee and employer relations.  There are minimum wage laws, laws that prohibit discrimination, laws ensuring a safe working environment, laws about medical leave and laws about the rights of employees to organize. 

Workers should be aware of the following: 

• Minimum wage law cases typically involve employees who have been paid less than what the law requires. This could mean not receiving the minimum wage, being denied overtime pay, or not being paid the prevailing wage.

• Employers can’t discriminate against employees based on race, religion, age, sex, national origin, or disabilities, either in the hiring process or when making a decision about compensation, promotion or dismissal.

• Unsafe working conditions are also against the law and should not be accepted.  Employers must protect workers from foreseeable hazards such as hazardous chemicals, excessive noise, extreme temperatures or unsanitary conditions.  Employers cannot retaliate against employees for reporting dangerous conditions.