How to Research Employment Laws

There are numerous state and federal employment laws that regulate employment and labor practices. Employers are required to know and comply with applicable laws. Employees should be aware of their rights in relation to the laws. The good news is that it is easy to locate detailed information about the various laws and regulations if you know where to look.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

The Research Process

1. Understand the structure of employment law in the United States. The federal government enacts employment and labor laws that apply to all states. Individual states also enact laws that apply to employers in their state. So, there may be both a federal and state law for the same employment practice. When researching employment laws, check the federal and state statutes.
2. Learn the primary federal laws. There is a summary of the primary laws in Section Two of this article. The federal government websites contain a variety of information about the various employment laws. You can find the actual text of the law along with employer and employee guides. You can also purchase employment and labor law guidebooks online.
3. Research the laws in your state. Visit the state's website to search for statutes and regulations. Contact the state by phone if the website does not have sufficient information.
4. Some counties and cities enact laws that apply to employment practices. After you learn the federal and state laws, contact your county and city to inquire.

Summary of the Primary Federal Employment Laws and Agencies

5. Familiarize yourself with the federal labor laws. The United States Department of Labor regulates a variety of labor practices including wages, overtime pay and medical leave.
6. Review laws against discrimination. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission oversees the anti-discrimination laws such as the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
7. Research unions. The National Labor Relations Act defines union regulations, including employer and union conduct.
8. Study the federal immigration laws. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services defines employer requirements to verify the employment eligibility of all employees.
9. Learn about safety in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act defines specific employer requirements to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. The act authorizes individual states to enact state safety laws that meet or exceed the federal requirements.

Tips & Warnings

• Reading the actual text of the law can give you a headache. Many government websites provide fact sheets that contain a summary of the laws in an easy-to-read format.
• When a state passes a law that is related to a similar federal law, employers must follow the law that is the most favorable to employees.
• Some employment laws don't apply to small businesses. Read the text of the law to determine if it applies to your business.
• Employers should obtain professional legal advice when creating workplace practices that are regulated by employment laws.