Adoption 101: The Legal Fundamentals

What Are Employment Laws?

21 July 2021

Brayden Miles

There are over 180 employment laws in place for the protection of the employee. These laws are constantly protecting you, whether you are aware of the protection you are receiving from them or not. While it would be impossible to become familiar with all 180+ laws, you can still learn about a few common ones. 

Examples of Employment Laws

Employees are protected in many ways thanks to the employment laws.

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage law is one of the most well-known and most controversial employment laws there are. This law differs at federal, state, and city levels. The federal level sets the minimum wage at $7.25 per hour. Any state or city that does not have its own law set must follow the federal minimum wage law. 

Health Insurance

It was made a law that any business that is considered to be medium or large has to offer a health insurance option for its full-time employees. Medium to large employers who do not offer insurance can be charged a fine. 

Whistleblowing 

Whistleblowing is the act of reporting your employer. The employment laws protect the whistleblower's job. The employer is not allowed to fire or retaliate against the employee in any way just because they reported the employer. 

Family Leave

In the event of a birth, adoption, or serious personal or family illness, the Family Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, made it so medium to large businesses are required to allow their eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year after giving birth. 

Importance of Employment Law

Employment laws are important because they protect an employee and regulate the relationship with the employer to promote a fair and equal environment. These laws give employees the right to quit when they want while also protecting their wages, benefits, and safety. If an employer violates any employment laws, an employee can hire an employment lawyer to take the employer to court. 

Employment laws also offer employers the ability to hire who they want but also the ability to fire an employee at will. Because of these laws, an employer cannot get into legal trouble for letting an employee go unless it is proven there was a motive behind it, like discrimination. If discrimination is suspected, an employee can hire a race discrimination lawyer to take the employer to court. Reach out to an attorney for more information about employment law. 

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