Employment Law Lawyers - Legal Resources

EMPLOYMENT LAW ASSOCIATION

Employment law is the area of law that deals with employer and employee relationships, and other employment related matters. Employment law is comprised of federally mandated laws as well as the laws of the state where a business or corporation is located. Employment laws are used to protect both employee and employer rights.

Employment Laws for Employees

Employment laws seek to help employees by preventing discrimination and by providing safe ways to fight this if it does happen. Employment law establishes health and safety guidelines to protect employees. Minimum amounts for wages are established by employment law in the hopes of providing all employees with at least a minimum wage level that is necessary to have sufficient economic support. As well, employment law is supposed to prevent work disruption due to disputes between labor and management.

Employment laws for employees include such things as:

Employee benefits
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)
Employment discrimination
Family and medical leave
Immigration
Labor relations

Employment Law for Employers

Employers need to understand and know about both, federal and state employment laws before they hire employees. This is not always as easy to do as to say because there are so many different things employers need to know and they often don’t even know what they don’t know. There are many different laws and regulations that employers need to comply with. If they do not comply with these, even if it is done innocently with no means of doing anything illegal or harmful, employers can get in a lot of trouble. The same laws that protect employees are the laws that employers need to make sure they are upholding.

Employment Lawyers

Both employers and employees, as well as government agencies that deal with employment law, all need employment lawyers. Employment lawyers that represent employees or employers, typically specialize in representing one of these groups but rarely both. Employment lawyers can work in private law firms, as in-house counsel, and for the government. Employment lawyers that help employees are often called upon when an employee is at a disadvantage or being taken advantage of because their employer or a potential employer, is not following federal and state employment laws. Employment lawyers that help employees often represent employees in lawsuits against employers and help employees negotiate settlements for a wide range of grievances. Employment lawyers that represent employees may also assist unions and other organizations that help to protect employee rights.

Employment lawyers that help employers tend to focus on helping them to be sure that they are complying with state and federal employment laws, as well as to defend them in the event that an employee challenges them with a claim that they are not complying with these laws. There are many laws that must be followed for an employer to lawfully hire and terminate employment relationships. Employment lawyers often help employers to save time and money by helping employers to treat their employees fairly and in compliance with employment laws. Employment lawyers can help employers and employees to draft and negotiate contracts of employment.