Labor Law Violations

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How well is your organization adhering to U.S. labor laws? Many employers find themselves facing employment-related law suits that come directly from labor law violations. In many cases, the employer had no idea there was a problem until they received the law suit notice. That is why it is important for employers to know about the most common labor law violations and to take action to avoid problems. Not paying overtime when it's due According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, hourly employees who work more than 40 hours in a given week must be paid time and a half for the additional hours. There are very few exceptions to this rule. A common way this law is violated is when an employer pays on an every two week or once a month basis. Instead…show more content…
That is a total of 80 hours for the two-week pay period. If the employer only pays the hourly rate for those 80 hours, it is a potential violation. The employee should be paid time-and-a-half for the two hours of overtime in the first week, and the hourly rate for the remaining 78 hours in the pay period. Paying sub-minimum or unpaid wages Every state has a minimum wage. There are very few exceptions where a company can pay an employee less than minimum wage. These exceptions are usually for apprentices or student workers. They are only for limited times and in limited circumstances. If an employer knows that an employee is working off the clock, the employer can be held liable for paying that employee for the hours worked, whether scheduled or not. This can either be at the behest of the employer who wants extra work done without paying for it. Or it can happen if the employee is doing the work on his or her own initiative. If the employer is gaining something from the work that is being done, the employer must pay wages for that work. Not ensuring a safe…show more content…
These include poor ventilation, poor lighting, incorrect storage of chemicals, cluttered office spaces, and poor ergonomic design of individual work spaces. The employer is also responsible for educating employees about potential hazards and providing appropriate training. Not covering worker's injuries on the job Most states require employers to carry some sort of workers' compensation insurance to cover the costs of worker injuries which happen on the job. Texas is an exception to this, allowing some companies to cover costs themselves. But, even if an employer is legally allowed not to carry workers' compensation insurance, that does not mean they are exempt from paying for worker injuries. In almost all cases, if a worker sustains an injury while working for a specific employer, that employer must cover the costs related to that injury. This includes the medical costs, rehabilitation costs, and the costs of wages not being earned due to disability. Misclassification of a worker Some employers try to classify workers in such a way to minimize the wages paid to that

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