Hiring employees is a great indicator that means your business is growing and thriving. But there is one minor drawback or challenge to hiring new staff, and it isn’t just having to train them in many new topics like cybersecurity learning. It’s also how employers need to be aware of and are compliant with the applicable labor laws.
What are labor laws, you ask? These are an extensive set of federal and state rules and regulations. The main objective of labor laws is to protect employees’ rights. If employers don’t comply with such laws, there are significant financial and reputational consequences that are extremely damaging to businesses. That’s why it’s crucial for business owners and employers to be aware of labor law compliance.
This goes beyond compliance training courses for employers! You must also learn about labor laws so you know what to do when hiring new employees.
- Family and Medical Leave Act
Many employers and employees misunderstand FMLA. This employment law notes that private-sector employers with over 50 employees need to grant eligible employees up to 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave for specific medical and family reasons within a year.
The FMLA also prohibits employers from denying, preventing, and interfering with employee rights provided by law.
- National Labor Relations Act
Even if a company doesn’t employ unionized employees, it is still subject to the requirements of NLRA. This law will apply to most private employers. It grants employees their right to unionize, engage in concerted activity, and collectively bargain for their “mutual aid and protection.”
When referring to “mutual aid and protection,” this is the Section 7 rights, which include employees’ permission to discuss their terms and conditions of employment. For instance, this can include discussing their wages.
- Occupational Safety and Health Act
The OSHA aims to reduce any activity putting employees at risk or in dangerous situations. This law has various safety regulations to minimize workplace risks.
For instance, if the worksite has harmful chemicals, employers must provide safety data sheets about these substances to their employees. There must also be labor law posters and verbiage informing employees on reporting workplace safety issues.
- Child Labor Laws
Working with young employees may be an interesting experience, but you must know how to do it right when hiring minors. As an employer, you have the responsibility to ensure you have a safe workplace that will not threaten the schooling and well-being of younger employees.
Moreover, you cannot treat minors as you would adult employees. Based on age, minors are only allowed to work a specific number of hours and only within specific industries. For instance, individuals who are younger than 14 years old may work as actors, and performers, deliver newspapers, work in specific agriculture jobs, or work for their relatives. The laws would vary from state to state.
Wrapping It Up
Be sure to study these laws to prevent major consequences for your business.
