1. Objective 3.01 Understand employment law

2. Employment Law Basics Employment law
Division of law that governs the relationship between employers and employees
Employment law stems from various forms of law including tort, criminal, contract, and labor law

3. Employment Law Basics Employer
Person or company who pays a person for a wage, salary, payment or fee in exchange for supervising and controlling the employee’s activities

4. Employment Law Basics Employee
Person who works for an employer for a wage, salary, payment or fee, guided by an express or implied agreement
The employee is under the control and supervision of the employer

5. Employment Law Basics Independent contractor
Person who works for an employer for a wage, salary, payment or fee, guided by an express or implied agreement
Person is not subject to the control or supervision of an employer

6. Employment Law Basics Express employment agreement
A formal contract, either oral or written, that specifically states the terms and conditions of employment

7. Employment Law Basics Implied employment agreement
An employment contract in which the terms and conditions may be inferred through the actions, comments, promises, and employment practices of either the employer or employee.

8. NC Department of Labor
Promotes the general well-being, safety, and health of NC workers by:
Enforcing occupational and health standards
Setting the minimum wage and maximum number of work hours per week
Providing apprentice programs for the skilled trades
Conducting inspections for mines, boilers, elevators, amusement rides, and quarries

9. Fair Labor Standards Act
Also referred to as the Wage and Hour Act
Federal law that sets the minimum wage, overtime pay, and age requirements for certain types of employees
This act does not apply to the minimum wage or overtime pay of professional workers, executives, administrative, and outside sales employees

10. Fair Labor Standards Act
North Carolina Youth Employment Provisions of the Wage and Hour Act for Nonagricultural Occupations
Law that establishes labor standards and labor guidelines for youth 17 years old and younger
In general, children of any age are permitted to work for business owned by parents
This is a provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

11. Occupational Safety & Health Act
Federal act that establishes and promotes workplace safety standards for businesses
Employers should undertake specific precautions to ensure that the workplace is free of hazards that would lead to harm, permanent injury or death
Violators may be fined up to $7,000 per day

12. Americans with Disability Act
Federal act that prohibits discrimination based on a person’s disability if the person with the disability is able to perform the essential functions of the job requirements

13. Age Discrimination Act in Employment
This act prohibits discrimination against applicants and employees 40 years of age or older throughout the employment process
This act only apply to businesses employing 20 or more employees

14. Family and Medical Leave Act
This act provides eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family or medical conditions, such as:
The birth or adoption of a child
The employee is diagnosed with a serious health condition
The employee needs to care for a close relative with a serious health condition

15. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act prohibits employment agencies, employers, and unions from discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or sex
Discrimination is prohibited throughout the employment process including hiring, compensation, promotion, training, and termination

16. The Civil Rights Act of 1991
The purpose of this act was to strengthen civil rights law, in particular disparate impact
Disparate impact
Occurs when an employer creates a seeming fair employment practice that has a negative impact on members of a protected class
Under this act, employers must prove that their practices are based on job qualifications

17. Employment-at-Will
An employer or employee can terminate employment “at-will” for any reason or no reason without being liable for breach of contract
Certain types of employees are not subject to employment-at-will laws including employees with contracts and unionized employees.

18. Union
An organization of employees formed to ensure favorable work conditions, wages, work hours, benefits and grievance procedures

19. Types of Shops Closed shop Union shop
Employees must join the union before being hired
Union shop
Non-union employees can by hired, but must join union within a certain amount of time

20. Types of Shops Agency shop Open shop
Employees are not required to join the union, yet they still must pay union dues
Open shop
Employees are not required to join the union or pay union dues

21. Right to Work Law
State law that prohibits employees from requiring employees to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment
Airline and railway employees are not protected by this law
What are the right to work states?
Employees have the freedom to chose whether or not to join the union (or pay union dues)

22. Right to Work States

23. Unemployment Compensation
Insurance program that provides temporary income for qualified individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own
Eligibility requirements for collecting unemployment compensation varies by state
The North Carolina Division of Employment Security handles unemployment claims

24. Unemployment Benefit Requirements
In North Carolina, any individual wanting to collect or continue to collect unemployment compensation must:
Register for work through the Employment Security Commission
File a claim for each week that benefits are needed
Actively seek employment during any week unemployment benefits are received

25. Denial of Unemployment Benefits
In North Carolina, an individual may be denied unemployment compensation if he/she:
Quits a job
Gets fired from a job
Refuses a referral job
Turns down a job offer
Refuses to Approved Commission Training
Fails to complete Approved Commission Training

26. Social Security Act
Enacted in 1935 to provide financial assistance to eligible workers and their dependents in the form of retirement, disability, and death benefits
The act established the social insurance program commonly called Social Security
Federal insurance program funded by the tax contributions of employees and employers

27. Social Security Disability Benefit
Replaces income when a severe long lasting disability or terminal illness prevents eligible person from doing “any substantial work”
Claim is filed through the through Social Security Administration
Six month required elimination (waiting) period
Periodic review of status to continue benefits

28. Social Security Retirement Benefit
Eligible persons can receive a percentage of social security by age 62, but the individual can receive full benefits at either age 65 or 67
A person can receive social security retirement benefits if the spouse dies
Medicare is also considered a social security benefit

29. Social Security Death Benefit
Lump sum payment given to the surviving spouse upon the death of a person who worked long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits
The average death benefit is $255

30. Worker’s Compensation
A government-regulated program that provides medical benefits and income to employees who are injured or who develop a disability or disease as a result of their job
Indemnifies (pays) employee for their loss of income
Insurance is paid for by employer