Federal Laws That Protect Employees

There was a time when employees were dependent on employers for job-related security and advantages, but now no more. With the increasing momentum of employee rights in the 20th century, a list of labour protection laws was passed that millions of Americans rely on today. 

Nowadays, the U.S. Department of Labor enforces around 180 worker protection laws, covering a wide array of benefits protecting their rights from all spectrums. Further, with labour lawyers and protections supervised by agencies like the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, no labour is left feeling helpless. 

Here are some key federal protections furnished for employees. Have a look. 

• The Minimum Wage

To ensure that American workers receive a minimum wage for their work, the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) was passed. And ever since then, most private and public employers have had to pay staff members a minimum wage. The FLSA also guarantees nonexempt workers’ rights to collect time-and-a-half for any overtime they perform.

• Workplace Security

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is primarily responsible for enforcing the law, although state agencies might play a role in implementing certain provisions.

The enactment has expressed specific safety provisions, including industry-specific guidelines for construction, maritime, and other jobs. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 also includes a “General Duty Clause” that forbids any workplace exercise signifying a clear risk to workers. 

• Health Coverage

Initially, the Affordable Care Act promised to make health insurance a right for workers at most medium- and large-size businesses. Where the employer will have a share in the responsibility, and if they fail, they would be liable for penalty. Further, an employee needs to work at least 30 hours a week on average to qualify as a “full-time” employee, subsequently the insurance. 

• Social Security

The Social Security Act renders secluded and disabled Americans with a financial security net. Around 55.6 million people have received Social Security checks each month as of July 2021. These benefits are funded by a payroll tax, which may appear as “OASDI” on your pay stub. Here both employee and the employer are liable to contribute a predetermined rate on the staff member’s earnings. 

• Unemployment Benefits

Although each state has its unemployment insurance agency, jobless benefits are proposed through a joint federal-state program for provisional security. People must have been inactive for reasons outside their control to qualify for payments, such as a layoff or firing and meeting state-specific provisions. However, the payments aren’t that generous compared to the ones served in European countries. It ensures that Americans have at least a few months of security when they temporarily leave the workforce.

• Discrimination at Workplace

For the labour lawyer who serves an employer, one of the most common tasks they render is to assist employers in remaining compliant with various regulations. The act compels employers to comply with federal and state anti-discrimination laws to not segregate them based on race, sex, age, colour, national origin, religion, or disability.

Conclusion

Today, numerous legal protections intended to accommodate a minimum income level and protect them from risk at the workplace, with other safeguards have been formulated for American employees. Besides, they even have the right to reach out to a labour lawyer if their employer fails to abide by or go against the set rules.