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The Employment Laws Every Employer Must Know

The story of labor in general is one of increasing rights and protections, and the modern business climate sees employees enjoying the best conditions in history. As an employer, it is incumbent upon you to be familiar with the Florida and federal laws that protect employees so you don’t run afoul of them by accident. Here are the laws every Florida employer needs to know.

Job Discrimination And Reemployment

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in firing, hiring, or compensation based on religion, race, ethnicity or sex. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) guarantees that members of the armed forces be reemployed in their previous positions at the same pay and with the same benefits and privileges. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) specifically prohibits discrimination against employees over the age of 40 due to their age. And The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prevents discrimination against people living with disabilities as long as they can perform a job’s core duties. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) prohibits discrimination against female employees who become pregnant.

Compensation

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the minimum wage nationally (your state may have a superseding minimum wage) and sets overtime rules. It also limits the work that underage employees can engage in. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) requires employees to pay women as much as their male counterparts for the same jobs.

Leave

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) assures employees of up to 12 weeks annually of unpaid leave after the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a sick family member. However, the FMLA only applies to businesses of 50 or more employees.