Human Resources Laws & Regulations
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Internet Paper #2
Human Resources Laws & Regulations
HR590 — July 2007
INTRODUCTION
There are many different functions and roles of law in the business society. When describing employment law, there is a broad area that governs how employers interact with their employees, former employees and applicants for employment. These laws and regulations are not meant to be described in a short paper. They are detailed laws that require application to an employee’s specific situation and should be discussed at length to ensure the correct interpretation of the regulation. As an office manager that was put in charge of the Human Resources department of my organization, I was thrust into a world of complex laws that took many hours to understand. To be given this type of “fight or flight” role in my company was stressful to say the least. Ensuring compliance with federal regulations regarding organizations such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or learning about COBRA laws should be administered by someone with many hours of training in employment law. To be thrust into the fire of this situation at my company was careless of the management and they were ripe for a possible lawsuit if an employee felt the regulations were out of compliance. It is for this reason that I chose to evaluate the website of the U.S. Department of Labor and the website of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As an HR professional these websites are very helpful in outlining the laws and regulations that apply to each and every employee.
Website #1 — www.dol.gov
This is an excellent website dedicated to ensuring that Human Resources professionals, employment attorneys, and of course, employees can find information about the laws and regulations that govern the employment world. The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) in relation to employment law is as follows:
“In carrying out our mission, the Department administers a variety of Federal
labor laws including those that guarantee workers’ rights to safe and healthful
working conditions; a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay; freedom from
employment discrimination; unemployment insurance; and other income support.
The Department of Labor is responsible for administering and enforcing 180 federal laws covering 10 million employers and 125 million workers. It would be impossible to outline all of the laws but here are a few examples of the laws that the DOL summarized in their website as key to employers/employees:
Workplace Safety & Health — this details OSHA and the fact that employers have a general duty under the OSH Act to provide their employees with work and a workplace free from recognized, serious hazards.
Unions & Their Members — this details the power that DOL has to ensure a proper relationship between the union and its members. This law also covers how a union is governed and its officers elected.
The Family and Medical Leave Act —the law requires employers of 50 or more employees to give up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to eligible employees for the birth or adoption of a child or for the serious illness of the employee or a spouse, child or parent.
As you browse through the website of the DOL there are many useful links that help to answer questions about every law. For example, if an HR professional is looking for help regarding health plans and benefits, there is a full page dedicated to the assistance needed to find out if your organization is in compliance with federal law. The compliance assistance page details federal law regarding retirement and pension plans, COBRA questions and health benefit plans. In regards to COBRA there is an entire page of information regarding what the law requires to ensure that employees receive continuing coverage of their health benefits. This page gives detailed information about the time frame that an employer must utilize to ensure that they remain within the parameters of the law. It also gives contact information for the DOL in case further information is needed or a complaint filed. The DOL website serves a very good purpose for a Human Resources professional as the content on laws and regulations is detailed and complete. Every federal law is available on the website or a link provided as to where the law can be found. This is extremely helpful when research is necessary to ensure compliance is achieved.
Website #2 — www.eeoc.gov
This website is dedicated to dealing with all matters which come before it in regards to enforcing laws of equal employment