Legal Issues Affecting One´s Job

There exist a host of legal issues that may arise in the workplace.  For example, medical absences from work are covered by varied laws (mainly Federal laws), and these are discussed in the portion of this site which addresses Workplace Health Issues.

Other workplace issues of a legal nature may involve perceptions of discriminatory or retaliatory mistreatment. If you are in a protected category recognized by law, such as gender/race/age(over 40)/national origin/disability - then you qualify for non-discriminatory treatment. Proving unlawful treatment under these laws requires, ultimately, that a jury be convinced that the motivation (at least in part) for a particular action was unlawful discrimination.

The essential rule to remember is this: bringing a discrimination concern to the attention of one´s management is always crucial. The timing and manner of that complaint is important as well. While still employed, an employee believing himself a victim of discrimination may also file what is called a "Charge" of discrimination with the appropriate federal or state agency. The federal agency is known as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") and has offices in virtually all states.

Other legal issues in the workplace may arise from an injury sustained at work. In such situations, all states have ´workers compensation´ laws which regulate the pursuit of remedies available. Generally speaking, all states require employers to provide payment for all medical bills incurred by a worker injured at work. Additionally, these laws specify amounts of money to be paid for any permanently disabling injuries.

Finally, most states possess ´Whistleblower´ laws that require employers to not retaliate against their employees who may express internal, or external, complaints about matters otherwise subject to governmental regulation or law. For example, if you see and report a crime being committed in the workplace, your employer cannot discharge you in retaliation for reporting what you witnessed.