There are several federal laws that have been established in order to protect employee rights. The following information will help you to understand your basic rights, as well as the laws that protect your rights as an employee.
Basic Employee Rights
While not all businesses will qualify for each law, there are basic rights in all workplaces, including:
- The right to privacy
- The right to fair compensation
- The right to be free from age, race, gender, religion, or national origin discrimination
- The right to be in a workplace free of safety hazards, dangerous conditions, and toxic substances
- The right to be free from retaliation
Other Employee Rights
Based on the number of employees a business has and other state requirements, some of these laws may apply to you as well:
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)- This law regulates things such as the number of hours an employee is allowed to work, how many breaks an employee is allowed, as well as determine the salary and overtime requirements.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)- This law establishes the right to an eligible employee to take up to 12-weeks time off from work for qualified medical reasons, ensuring that their position is held for them upon their return. There are stipulations that an employee must meet in order to qualify for FMLA.
Title VII- This law only applies to en employer with more than 15 employees, and prohibits those employers from discriminating against race, color, national origin, sex, and religious belief during the hiring process.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)- This law prohibits discrimination against an employee with a qualified physical or mental impairment on the basis of their disability.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)- This law only applies to an employee over the age of 40 and works for an employer with more than 20 employees, and prevents the employer from favoring or giving preferential treatment to employees who are younger, and to the detriment of the older qualified employee.
The attorneys at Maduff & Maduff have been specializing in wage and overtime, discrimination, and civil rights law for more than 20 years. Contact us to see how we can help you with your employment law violation today.