Labor Law Posters Teach People About Their Rights

Most of us are aware of the difference between an employer and an employee. The employee is an individual who is paid by the employer to do a certain job. In order for a business to be successful, you need to have both of these groups working together towards a common goal. There are some people who think that the employers have all of the power. They have the right to hire and fire the employees if that is what they choose to do. Some people are under the assumption that the employer is the one that decides how much an employee is paid and what other rights they are given. This is not the way that it works in the United States. There are labor laws that have been established by the federal government and each state has their own set of rules and regulations about how employers and employees can act.

In every workplace there are supposed to be labor law posters that have been placed in spots where all employees can see them. These posters outline the federal standards for employers and employees. These standards include:

• The Minimum Wage – this is the lowest amount that an individual can be paid who is working in a non-agricultural business as an hourly employee.

• Equal Employment Opportunity Law – this means that an employer cannot discriminate when they hire employees.

• Job Safety and Health Protection – employers have to provide a safe workplace and environment for their employees.

• Family Medical Leave – allow employees to take unpaid time off without losing their job for medical issues.

All of these rules and several others must be followed or the employer is subject to fines and other penalties.

States can set rules that offer even more rights to employees and employers. They can set their own minimum wage that exceeds the amount set by the federal government. They can specify that employees should be given paid time off for voting. They can specify the rules for claiming unemployment benefits. Each state is able to add their own regulations and can also fine employers that break the laws.

The posters that are placed in the business are designed to make employees aware of what their rights are in the workplace. There are a lot of employees who have misconceptions about what their employers can do and what the employees are allowed to do. It is worth taking the time to understand these rights whether you are an employer or an employee.