What Employees and Employers Should Know About Employment Laws

Understanding employment laws is beneficial to employers and employees. These laws govern various workplace interactions and responsibilities. They shape everything from hiring and termination to workplace safety. Understanding these laws helps employers adhere to regulations that govern employee treatment. They also work on creating a safe and fair work environment. On the other hand, employees become aware of their rights and duties while at work. Below are three fundamental aspects of employment laws both parties should know:

Discrimination

Discrimination at work remains a significant challenge in modern workplace environments. Unfortunately, this undermines the principle of fairness and equality. Despite the presence of various laws, work environments still face the following common forms of discrimination:

• Race: Occurs when employees are not treated equally because of their race. This manifests in many ways, including biased hiring and exclusion from promotions. 
• Gender: Involves treating employees unfavorably because of their gender. Wage disparities and biased assignments due to an individual’s gender are common.
• Disability: Employers should provide reasonable accommodations for employees with any form of disability.
• Age: Employees above 40 years should be protected from unfair treatment at work. This form mostly manifests during hiring and termination decisions.

Employers should proactively address all forms of discrimination. This requires that they implement preventive policies and train their employees regularly. Doing this helps create an inclusive and equitable work environment.

Wrongful Termination

Unlawful dismissal of employees violates various legal and contractual agreements. This mostly occurs when an employee is fired for reasons not outlined in the employment contract. Common grounds for such terminations include retaliation and violation of public policy. Some employers also terminate their employees discriminatively.

Terminating an employee’s contract based on color or other protected characteristics is illegal. Some employers also terminate employee contracts for engaging in legally protected activities like whistleblowing. This is also prohibited under the EEOC laws. Similarly, employees can’t be fired for reasons that violate public policy. For instance, refusing to engage in illegal activities or going on a medical leave are not grounds for termination. 

Employers should adhere to various policies and procedures to maintain lawful termination practices. For instance, they should document performance issues and follow company protocols for disciplinary actions.

Worker’s Cover

Compensation laws are a crucial aspect of employment law. These laws are designed to protect employees who suffer workplace-related injuries. While these laws are designed to ensure employees receive the necessary support without engaging in complex legal battles, understanding the associated intricacies may require employees to seek specialized legal services. For instance, employees of construction companies may need to consult a construction accident attorney.

Compensation laws vary by state, but generally mandate that employers have insurance for injured employees. Employees also have a right to claim disability benefits if the injuries result in temporary or permanent disabilities and vocational rehabilitation expenses if they can’t resume work due to sustained injuries.

Endnote

Employers and employees should understand employment laws to ensure a fair and compliant work environment. These laws are the backbone of a just workplace and provide a framework that balances the interests of both parties. Adhering to them enables employers to promote inclusivity and safety while employees can confidently undertake their duties.