Monday, June 13, 2016

 Occupational Safety And Health Administration  Federal Government agency  Regulates health & safety standards for companies in the US.  Investigates written complaints.  Performs random inspections.  Levies fines for rule violations.

 “The Wage and Hour Law”  Congress establishes minimum wage and adjusts it from time to time.  Requires employees be paid overtime for more than 40 hrs per wk.

 Also called the Equal-pay rule ◦ An amendment to FLSA  Women must be paid the same rate as men for the same type of job.

 Employment Retirement Income Security Act  Protects pension plans.  Employers must place employee contributions to the plan in a trust fund that is independent of the employer’s control.

 A government program that provides continuing income to workers and their dependents when their earnings stop or are reduced because of retirement, disability, or death.  6.2% paid out of every paycheck (shows up as FICA).

 You receive this if you are out of a job and currently looking for one.  Funds come from both the state in which you live and federal funds.

 Accidents or Deaths caused while on the job and the task being performed is related to your job will qualify those persons involved to receive money for compensation.

 Federal Privacy Act = protects privacy of government workers.  Drug-free Workplace Act = applies to companies that have contracts with the government. Drug testing is not required.  Polygraph Protection Act = cannot use lie detector tests in the workplace (there are exceptions).

 Prohibits discrimination in employment based on sex, race, color, national origin, or religion.  Employees who have been violated in any of these areas can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

 An employer has a policy that appears unbiased, but is unfair to a protected class.  Example: A company decides to only hire employees who are over 5 foot 10 inches. This doesn’t seem to target a protected class, but it does because this limits it mostly to men.

 When an employer intentionally discriminates against an individual or a group of individuals belonging to a protected class.  For example: a company cannot say we will only hire female nurses – that would be discrimination of a protected class (gender).

 Forbids discrimination on the basis of a disability as long as the disabled can do the essential functions of the job despite the disability.  Employers must make accommodations for an employee with a disability if necessary.