Just as the state of California has laws to protect workers, so does the United States government. Importantly, federal employment laws are largely a reflection of the nation’s values regarding equal opportunities and civil rights. Besides ensuring people are paid fairly for their jobs, federal employment laws also protect people from discrimination at work.
If you are new to the United States or simply unaware of federal employment laws, you might not know if your rights have been violated at work. Unfortunately, employers sometimes try to take advantage of people by misclassifying their employment status or refusing to offer paid leave for medical emergencies.
Casa de la Justicia will not only protect your rights, but we will get you compensation if you experience labor law violations.
What Do Federal Labor Laws Do?
In order to regulate the millions of businesses in this country, the United States Department of Labor created hundreds of labor laws. Focusing on important topics like equal opportunity employment, leave benefits, and whistleblower protection, these laws ensure that the U.S. is a safe place to work for everyone.
Not only does federal labor and employment law define exactly what it means to be an employee in the United States, but it also lays out specific rules that must be followed by employers. Regulations that businesses must heed are related important topics like salary requirements, health benefits, and sexual harassment.
Who is Protected by Federal Labor Laws?
Many people are mistaken in thinking that federal labor laws only cover U.S. citizens and full-time workers. However, federal labor laws protect undocumented, part-time, and seasonal workers as well. Nonetheless, dishonest businesses sometimes mislead people into thinking they aren’t eligible for important federal protections.
Even if you are in the country illegally, you are still protected by the U.S. government when it comes to labor and employment law. If you are an undocumented worker, Casa de la Justicia will ensure that you don’t get fired for taking action against your employer.
The Civil Rights Act
Originally passed in 1964, Civil Rights Act has been extremely impactful on U.S. labor laws. Besides setting standards of equal treatment for people of different races and religions, the Civil Rights act has been instrumental in protecting people against sexual harassment in the workplace. Remember, sexual harassment at work includes discrimination against all people – including men, LBTQ employees, and more.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a very important federal law that regulates such things as wage standards and child labor. As such, the FLSA sets national standards for both overtime pay and minimum wage in the United States. In fact, the FLSA law protects you in the event that your boss tries to get you to do extra work without payment – such as running errands after you are finished for the day.
The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA)
The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act (MSPA) is one of the most important federal employment laws for undocumented workers. To ensure that migrant workers get treated fairly, the MSPA established “employment standards related to wages, housing, transportation, disclosures and recordkeeping.” Knowing MSPA laws is important for getting the wages you deserve for your hard work – even if you are in the country illegally.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives protections to people who are unable to work for “family and medical reasons.” There are a variety of different coverages available for people under the FMLA law, regarding full-time vs part-time work, as well as length of employment. FMLA employment law also ensures that pregnant women ample maternity leave. Keeping up-to-speed with FMLA law is very valuable in the event of a sickness, pregnancy, or family emergency.
Questions About Labor Law Violations? Contact Casa de la Justicia!
With a team of Spanish-speaking attorneys that are experts in federal labor law, Casa de la Justicia will make sure that employee rights are protected. If you feel like a law might have been broken by your employer, please Contact Us at 1-800-840-4040 for a free assessment.
Remember, your employer cannot legally fire you for filing a claim against them. If your boss intimidates or threatens you, that is all the more reason to take action with Casa de la Justicia!
