Employment Law

Unit 1 – Employment Contracts & At-Will Employment

Unit 2 – Discrimination in the workplace

Unit 3 – Harassment and Hostile Work Environments

Unit 4 – Wage and hour laws

Unit 5 – Employee Benefits and Leave Policies

Unit 6 – Workplace Safety and Health Laws

Unit 7 – Privacy rights in the workplace

Unit 8 – Unionization & Collective Bargaining

Unit 9 – Intellectual Property & Non-Compete Clauses

Unit 10 – Termination, Layoffs & Wrongful Discharge

Unit 11 – Employment Dispute Resolution & Litigation

## What do you learn in Employment Law

Employment Law covers the legal rights and responsibilities between employers and employees. You'll learn about workplace discrimination, wage and hour laws, workplace safety, employee benefits, and labor unions. The course dives into key legislation like the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act. You'll also explore wrongful termination, employment contracts, and workplace privacy issues.

## Is Employment Law hard?

Employment Law can be challenging due to the complex legal concepts and ever-changing regulations. The course involves a lot of case analysis and interpretation of statutes, which can be tricky at first. However, most students find it manageable with consistent effort. The real-world applications make it interesting, and once you get the hang of legal reasoning, things start to click. It's not a breeze, but it's definitely doable.

## Tips for taking Employment Law in college

1. Use [Fiveable Study Guides](https://fiveable.me/cram-mode) to help you cram 🌶️
2. Create a glossary of key legal terms - there are tons in this course
3. Stay updated on current employment law cases in the news
4. Practice applying laws to hypothetical scenarios
5. Form a study group to discuss complex cases
6. Use mnemonics to remember elements of different laws
7. Watch "The Devil Wears Prada" for a fun look at workplace dynamics
8. Read "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich for insights on labor issues

## Common pre-requisites for Employment Law

1. Business Law: This course covers the fundamentals of the legal system and its impact on business operations. It's a great foundation for understanding more specific areas of law.

2. Human Resource Management: This class focuses on managing people in organizations, including hiring, training, and compensation. It provides context for many employment law issues.

3. Organizational Behavior: This course examines how individuals and groups interact within organizational structures. It helps in understanding the human side of employment law situations.

## Classes similar to Employment Law

1. Labor Relations: Focuses on the relationship between management and labor unions. You'll learn about collective bargaining, union organization, and labor dispute resolution.

2. Business Ethics: Explores ethical issues in the business world, including many that overlap with employment law. You'll examine moral philosophies and their application to business decisions.

3. Workplace Diversity and Inclusion: Delves into creating and managing diverse workforces. It covers topics like cultural competence, bias, and inclusive policies.

4. Compensation and Benefits: Examines how organizations design and manage employee pay and benefits programs. It often touches on legal requirements related to wages and benefits.

## Majors related to Employment Law

1. Human Resource Management: Focuses on managing an organization's workforce. Students learn about recruitment, training, employee relations, and compliance with employment laws.

2. Business Administration: Provides a broad understanding of business operations. Employment law is a crucial component for future managers and executives.

3. Industrial Relations: Concentrates on the relationships between employees, employers, and labor unions. Students study collective bargaining, labor economics, and employment regulations.

4. Pre-Law: Prepares students for law school. Employment law is a popular specialization for future lawyers interested in representing either employees or employers.

## What can you do with a degree in Employment Law?

1. Human Resources Manager: Oversees an organization's HR department, ensuring compliance with employment laws. They handle issues like hiring, firing, benefits, and workplace disputes.

2. Employment Lawyer: Represents either employees or employers in legal disputes. They may work on cases involving discrimination, wrongful termination, or contract negotiations.

3. Compliance Officer: Ensures that an organization follows all relevant laws and regulations. They develop policies, conduct audits, and provide training on employment law issues.

4. Labor Relations Specialist: Manages the relationship between management and labor unions. They interpret labor contracts, handle grievances, and participate in collective bargaining negotiations.

## Employment Law FAQs

1. How often do employment laws change? Employment laws are frequently updated at federal, state, and local levels. It's important to stay current with changes that could affect workplace policies.

2. Does this course cover international employment law? Most Employment Law courses focus primarily on domestic laws, but some may touch on international issues. Check your specific course syllabus for details.

3. Will we learn how to write employment contracts in this course? While you'll learn about the components of employment contracts, drafting actual contracts is typically covered more in-depth in advanced legal writing courses.

4. How does this course relate to starting my own business? Understanding employment law is crucial for entrepreneurs. You'll learn about your legal obligations as an employer, which can help you avoid costly mistakes when hiring and managing employees.

Law and Business

1.1 Types of employment contracts

1.2 At-will employment doctrine

1.5 Breach of contract and remedies

1.3 Exceptions to at-will employment

1.4 Implied contracts and promissory estoppel

2.1 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

2.2 Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

2.5 Disparate treatment and disparate impact

2.6 Affirmative action and reverse discrimination

2.3 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

2.4 Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)

3.3 Hostile work environment

3.4 Employer liability for harassment

3.5 Retaliation and whistleblower protection

3.2 Other forms of harassment (racial, religious, etc.)

3.1 Sexual harassment

4.1 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

4.2 Minimum wage requirements

4.3 Overtime pay regulations

4.4 Exempt and non-exempt employees

4.5 Independent contractors and misclassification

5.1 Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

5.2 Health insurance and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

5.3 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

5.4 Workers' compensation

5.5 Unemployment insurance

6.1 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

6.3 Hazard communication and safety training

6.5 Workplace violence prevention

6.4 Recordkeeping and reporting requirements

6.2 Employer responsibilities and employee rights

7.1 Employee privacy and personal information

7.2 Electronic monitoring and surveillance

7.3 Drug testing and background checks

7.4 Social media and off-duty conduct

7.5 Confidentiality and trade secrets

8.1 National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

8.3 Collective bargaining and labor contracts

8.5 Public sector unions and right-to-work laws

8.2 Union organizing and representation elections

8.4 Unfair labor practices and strikes

9.2 Trade secrets and confidential information

9.3 Non-compete and non-solicitation agreements

9.4 Intellectual property disputes and litigation

9.5 Employee inventions and works made for hire

9.1 Copyright and patent ownership in the workplace

10.1 Wrongful termination and constructive discharge

10.3 Severance agreements and releases

10.2 Layoffs and reductions in force (RIF)

10.4 Unemployment compensation eligibility

10.5 References and blacklisting

11.1 Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods

11.2 Mediation and arbitration in employment disputes

11.4 Employment discrimination lawsuits

11.5 Class actions and collective actions

11.3 Administrative agencies (EEOC, NLRB, DOL)

Browse all Employment Law Key Terms

About Us

Resources

Stay Connected

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

About Us

Resources

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

Back

Next