If you are a business owner at present or if you are planning on becoming one, then you need to know much about labor laws. These are the laws that concern the rights of the employees and about the state of their relationship to their employers. Ignorance about these laws is not an excuse, should you commit a violation.
It is important that you should know about these legal matters so you should be aware of what you can and what you cannot do. Here are some of the important things that you should be aware of:
It Varies from State to State- You should keep in mind that laws dealing with employee and employer relations are different from each state. When a state sets a higher minimum wage than the Federal minimum wage, the higher wage takes effect. So you should know about the laws in your area as well.
Overtime Payment- One of the most common source of problems when it comes to labor relations is the matter of overtime. By definition, overtime pay is any work rendered over what has been legally set as minimum by the law. Federal law requires that employees pay their workers 1.5 times more than the normal rate for anything over 40 hours per week.
Lunch and Coffee Breaks- This is another issue where a lot of people are having trouble with. You might be surprised to learn that employers are not obliged to provide their workers with any lunch breaks or coffee breaks. You can provide them with lunch breaks, but you will not be obliged to pay for that time.
The State Requirements- Things might be different though on the state level. Your state law might require employers to provide 30 minute meal breaks and that would have to be mandatory. That's why you should know all about state laws.
Minimum Wage- There are some exceptions, but the government has set a minimum wage for all employees in the United States. Exceptions would include those workers who are able to receive tips from the performance of their duties such as waiters and bellboys. As mentioned earlier the state might set a higher minimum wage and that would take effect.
Discrimination- You should never encourage discrimination in the workplace. Discrimination based on gender, sexual preference, religious belief, and disability have no place in the work place and as an employer you should do everything to make sure that it is not encouraged amongst your employees. That can lead to trouble for you.
These are just some of the basic things that you ought to know about laws concerning labor and employer relations. If you are planning on setting up a business then you should know all about this and many more so that you do not violate the rights of your employees.
It is important that you should know about these legal matters so you should be aware of what you can and what you cannot do. Here are some of the important things that you should be aware of:
It Varies from State to State- You should keep in mind that laws dealing with employee and employer relations are different from each state. When a state sets a higher minimum wage than the Federal minimum wage, the higher wage takes effect. So you should know about the laws in your area as well.
Overtime Payment- One of the most common source of problems when it comes to labor relations is the matter of overtime. By definition, overtime pay is any work rendered over what has been legally set as minimum by the law. Federal law requires that employees pay their workers 1.5 times more than the normal rate for anything over 40 hours per week.
Lunch and Coffee Breaks- This is another issue where a lot of people are having trouble with. You might be surprised to learn that employers are not obliged to provide their workers with any lunch breaks or coffee breaks. You can provide them with lunch breaks, but you will not be obliged to pay for that time.
The State Requirements- Things might be different though on the state level. Your state law might require employers to provide 30 minute meal breaks and that would have to be mandatory. That's why you should know all about state laws.
Minimum Wage- There are some exceptions, but the government has set a minimum wage for all employees in the United States. Exceptions would include those workers who are able to receive tips from the performance of their duties such as waiters and bellboys. As mentioned earlier the state might set a higher minimum wage and that would take effect.
Discrimination- You should never encourage discrimination in the workplace. Discrimination based on gender, sexual preference, religious belief, and disability have no place in the work place and as an employer you should do everything to make sure that it is not encouraged amongst your employees. That can lead to trouble for you.
These are just some of the basic things that you ought to know about laws concerning labor and employer relations. If you are planning on setting up a business then you should know all about this and many more so that you do not violate the rights of your employees.