The Definition of Labor Law

Most workers might hear about labor laws when they are injured at work, ask about why they have to take a break or wonder about why they have never been paid less than $5.15 an hour or more, depending on when they last worked a minimum wage job. America has a long history of struggle between employers and employees. Current labor laws emerged from that struggle.

Considerations

Poor working conditions, low pay and long working hours were partially responsible for the establishment of labor laws. In order to improve working conditions, workers unionized and went on strike in order to push industries toward providing better pay and conditions. But these industries had an economic incentive to continue their current labor practices. Labor laws arose out of a complicated struggle between businesses, workers, unions and the federal government.

History

The first major labor act was the Clayton Act, enacted in 1914. This legislation was enacted in part to fight business monopolies. In 1926, the Railway Labor Act was passed to provide the means to resolve labor disputes within the railroad industry. In 1932, workers were given the right to strike under the Norris-LaGuardia Act. During Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, several major labor laws were passed, providing worker benefits such as breaks, overtime, minimum wage, unemployment and workers' compensation. The New Deal acts were passed between 1933 and 1938.

Definition

As of 2009, those employed by businesses in the United States have legal protections. When these legal protections are violated, workers have the legal right to report these violations. Businesses that violate labor laws are subject to fines and can have their enterprises shut down.

Types

Labor laws passed in the United States have focused on rights granted to the unions by the federal government, rights given to workers while on the clock, rules regarding the inspection of businesses and penalties for businesses refusing to comply with U.S. labor laws.

Benefits and Consequences

Labor laws have led to improved working conditions and protections for individuals who express an interest in or actually protest adverse working conditions. However, unions have harmed some businesses by making it difficult for industries to let go of workers who are no longer needed by or are too expensive for the business. Also, labor laws such as minimum wage have caused some businesses to send jobs overseas to nations that have more lenient labor laws and much lower rates of pay, resulting in the elimination of American jobs and a rise in unemployment.

Resources

• Filing for Workers' Compensation