Unit 1662 - Employment Law Fundamentals

1. Overview of Employment Law

• Introduction to Employment Law
• Principles governing employer-employee relationships
• Sources of Employment Law: statutes, case law, regulations
• Scope and importance of Employment Law in the workplace

2. Employment Contracts

• Elements of a valid employment contract
  • Offer, acceptance, consideration, legal capacity, lawful purpose
• Types of employment contracts
  • Permanent, fixed-term, part-time, casual, zero-hours
• Terms and conditions of employment
  • Express terms, implied terms, statutory terms
• Implications and consequences of breach of contract

3. Discrimination in the Workplace

• Overview of anti-discrimination laws
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
• Protected characteristics and prohibited discriminatory practices
• Impact of these laws on workplace policies and culture

4. Wage and Hour Laws

• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overview
• Minimum wage requirements
• Overtime pay regulations
• Employee classification: exempt vs. non-exempt
• Recordkeeping and reporting requirements

5. Workplace Health and Safety

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards
• Employer responsibilities for maintaining safe workplaces
• Employee rights and participation in safety programs
• Enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance

6. Employee Privacy Rights

• Overview of employee privacy in the workplace
• Monitoring and surveillance policies
• Electronic communications and privacy considerations
• Drug testing and background checks
• Relevant privacy protection laws and legal limits

7. Termination and Wrongful Dismissal

• Legal grounds for termination of employment
• Just cause and no-cause terminations
• Notice requirements and severance pay
• Wrongful dismissal claims and remedies
• Legal considerations during layoffs and downsizing

8. Employee Benefits and Leave

• Types of employee benefits: health insurance, retirement plans
• Statutory leave entitlements: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), sick leave, vacation
• Employer obligations and employee eligibility
• Interaction between federal and state leave laws

9. Unfair Labor Practices

• National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) overview
• Employer actions prohibited by law
  • Interference with organizing efforts
  • Retaliation against collective bargaining
  • Restrictions on protected concerted activities
• Remedies and enforcement

10. Alternative Dispute Resolution in Employment Law

• Introduction to dispute resolution methods
• Mediation: process and benefits
• Arbitration: procedures and enforceability
• Negotiation strategies in employment disputes
• Comparison with traditional litigation