The federal and state governments regulate many aspects of employer–employee relationships. Some of these regulations do not apply until a business attains a certain size.
These regulations include restrictions on what factors may influence hiring and firing decisions, as well as decisions that change the conditions of employment. Examples include the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The state also regulates how much or how little an employee may be paid, how many hours an employee may work, and the physical condition of the workplace.
This guide provides resources on the following topics:
Labor Law: Governs employees’ rights to organize and advocate for better working conditions, and the employer’s duty to bargain in good faith with organized workers. This is distinct from general employment law.
Health and Safety Regulations: Require employers to provide safe working conditions. These rules limit total work hours, mandate rest breaks, and set standards for environmental and workplace safety.
Anti-Discrimination and Accommodation Law: Prohibits or regulates hiring decisions based on certain protected categories, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability. There do exist limited exception to anti-discrimination law (such as bona fide occupational qualifications in age discrimination law or undue hardship in providing accommodations in disability discrimination law). In addition to federal law, many states add further protected categories, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or prior criminal history.
There are other important topics relevant to employment law including the Family and Medical Leave Act, regulations on wages and hours as well as employee privacy considerations. The following resources can provide information on some of these subjects.
Employment Law in a Nutshell
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Employment Law Sourcebook
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Privacy in Employment Law
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