1Overview
 1Rights of Job Applicants
 1Right to Privacy
1Other Important Rights
 1Federal Regulations
1Asserting your rights in the workplace

 

 YOU HAVE THE RIGHT! 
 

Some Federal Regulations
on the Employment Relationship

The following is a summary of key federal laws related to employment. This summary is by no means all inclusive. For more details you should speak with a labor and employment lawyer.

    Title VII Federal Civil Rights Law
  • Investigated and enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) and private law suit. Go to eeoc.gov for more information.
  • Applies only to employers with 15 or more employees.
  • Prohibits employers from discriminating in the hiring process based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.



    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Investigated and enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) and private law suit. Go to eeoc.gov for more information
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    • Defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
  • Prohibits discrimination against a person with a qualified disability.

  • Provides that if an individual with a disability can perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation, that person cannot be discriminated against on the basis of their disability.



    • Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • Investigated and enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) and private law suit. Go to eeoc.gov for more information
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    • Prevents employers from giving preferential treatment to younger workers to the detriment of older workers.
  • Only applies to workers 40 years of age and older, and to workplaces with 20 or more employees.
  • Does not prevent an employer from favoring older employees over younger employees.



    • Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Provides regulation as to the duration of work days, and breaks an employer must provide.
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    • Governs applicable salary and overtime requirements set out by the federal government.

      National Labor Relations Act
      The National Labor Relations Act extends rights to many private-sector employees including the right to organize and bargain with their employer collectively. Employees covered by the Act are protected from certain types of employer and union misconduct and have the right to attempt to form a union where none currently exists.
      Examples of Your Rights As An Employee Under the NLRA Are:      .

      • Forming, or attempting to form, a union among the employees of your employer.
      • Joining a union whether the union is recognized by your employer or not.
      • Assisting a union in organizing your fellow employees.
      • Engaging in protected concerted activities. Generally, "protected concerted activity" is group activity which seeks to modify wages or working conditions.
      • Refusing to do any or all of these things. However, the union and employer, in a State where such agreements are permitted, may enter into a lawful union-security clause requiring employees to pay union dues and fees.

        • The NLRA forbids employers from interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of rights relating to organizing, forming, joining or assisting a labor organization for collective bargaining purposes, or engaging in protected concerted activities, or refraining from any such activity. Similarly, labor organizations may not restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of these rights.

        Go to http://www.nlrb.gov for more information on other rights and protections under this law

        Family and Medical Leave Act
    • Preserves qualified employees' positions for the duration of the leave.
      •