Define Employment Laws
Employment laws, also commonly referred to as labor laws, encompass a broad range of regulatory movements aimed at protecting employee rights and roles in the United States.
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Enforcement
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Employment laws in the United States are regulated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL.) Currently, the DOL enforces nearly 180 federal laws associated with labor and employment in the country.
Major Laws
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Examples of major employment laws, as reported by the DOL, include the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), dictating minimum wage; the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), regulating authorized alien workers in the U.S.; and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, a set of laws regulating workplace safety in the U.S.
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Guide
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Additionally, the DOL provides an Employment Law Guide dedicated to outlining all the active federal employment laws and statutes. The guide serves mainly as a resource for businesses drafting employment policies.
Reporting Rights
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Most employment laws in the country mandate reporting and non-discriminatory requirements. For example, the FLSA explicity states that employees have the right to report any wrongdoing in the workplace to the Wage and Hour Division without fear of retaliation.
Records
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Additionally, laws like the FLSA requires employers to keep accurate records of each employee. Examples of records required to be maintained include sex, occupation, pay rate, employee's full legal name, and employee's full address.
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