Chapter 5 Workers and The Law Chapter 5.2

The Importance of Employment Laws Chapter 5 The Importance of Employment Laws Employment laws regulate the relationship between companies and their workers and give workers significant rights and benefits, including the right to work in a safe environment There are strict penalties for companies who violate these laws

5 Employment Laws Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws Chapter 5 5 Employment Laws Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws Occupational safety and health laws Wage-hour laws Benefit laws Labor relations laws

Equal Employment Opportunity Laws Chapter 5 Equal Employment Opportunity Laws

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Chapter 5 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Companies cannot discriminate against an employee because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) can sue a company that discriminates against an employee The employee can also take the company to court

Age Discrimination in Employment Act Chapter 5 Age Discrimination in Employment Act Companies cannot discriminate against employees because of their age in hiring, promotions, or retirement Workers between the ages of 40 and 70 can sue employers for discrimination

Americans with Disabilities Act Chapter 5 Americans with Disabilities Act Companies cannot discriminate against persons with disabilities Companies cannot fire or refuse to hire people because of certain disabilities and illnesses, such as blindness or diabetes Companies must also accommodate a worker’s disabilities

Occupational Safety and Health Laws Chapter 5 Occupational Safety and Health Laws

Occupational Safety and Health Laws Chapter 5 Occupational Safety and Health Laws Occupational Safety and Health Act sets standards for keeping workplaces clean and free of hazards, such as unsafe machinery and dangerous chemicals Businesses must keep records of employee illnesses, injuries, and deaths and submit them to the US Dept of Labor OSHA inspectors visit workplaces to make sure they comply with regulations

Chapter 5 Wage-Hour Laws

Chapter 5 Wage-Hour Laws Wage-Hour laws establish minimum wage, overtime, and child labor standards for employees Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) protects workers in three ways: Sets minimum wage companies can pay Sets number of hours employees can work in a week without receiving overtime pay Prohibits companies from employing children under the age of 14

Chapter 5 Benefits Laws Benefit laws guarantee that workers will receive certain benefits regardless of what happens to them on the job Companies must comply with five different benefits laws: Social Security Act Employee Retirement Income Security Act Unemployment Insurance Laws Workers’ Compensation Laws Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Chapter 5 Social Security Act Provide workers and their families with income after retirement. Supports disabled workers and the federal Medicare program, which provides health insurance for senior citizens Employers and employees share the cost of SS taxes while the worker is employed When workers retire, they receive a pension based on their lifetime earnings

Employee Retirement Income Security Act Chapter 5 Employee Retirement Income Security Act ERISA protects the money put into an employee’s retirement fund by companies and workers Not every company establishes this program

Unemployment Insurance Laws Chapter 5 Unemployment Insurance Laws Provides workers with financial assistance during period of unemployment To be eligible for unemployment insurance, workers must meet two requirements: Must have lost their jobs through no fault of their own Must have worked a certain length of time Employers must pay a certain amount into unemployment for each worker

Workers’ Compensation Laws Chapter 5 Workers’ Compensation Laws All states have laws that insure workers against injury, illness, or death because of job conditions Employers are liable for an employee’s on-the-job injury no matter how the illness or injury occurs Covers accidents even if they are the fault of the worker!

Family Medical Leave Act Chapter 5 Family Medical Leave Act FMLA requires companies to give employees up to 12 weeks of leave to care for a child, spouse, or parent Law only affects companies of 50 or more employees Companies don’t have to pay their employees while they are on leave, but must give them their jobs back with no penalties

Chapter 5 Labor Relations Laws

Chapter 5 Labor Relations Laws Protect the right of employees to organize into unions to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions Unions are groups of workers who collectively bargain for rights such as higher wages and better working conditions Companies must at least listen to what unions say they want for their members Organizing Collective Bargaining Striking Strikes are a union’s ultimate weapon

Chapter 5 Activity Hot Coffee Movie Hot Coffee Movie Questions