Protection Laws That Workers Should Be Aware Of

There are now protection laws in place which safeguard the rights of workers. The US Department of Labor for example has enforced some 180 federal labor laws, that empower workers and not be at the mercy of employers. The Fair Labor Standards Act established a federal minimum wage, which currently stands at $7.25 an hour, though individual states may have set a higher amount. Here is a lowdown on a few of them:

The Minimum Wage:

Under the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA), American workers for example receive a minimum wage for their work. Since 2009, it was capped to a minimum of $7.25 per hour. In addition, the FLSA assures non exempt workers’ rights to receive time-and-a-half for any overtime they perform.

Workspace Safety:

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970,danger at workplace was made minimal for workers. The legislation was able to create several specific safety provisions, including industry specific guidelines to protect workers. These included industries like construction, maritime and agriculture jobs.

Health Coverage:

If you work 30 hours a week at an average, you are entitled to a health insurance. No employer who employs more than 50 full time workers can deny this right to you.

Social Security:

Even today, this is the most widely used safety net for retired professionals. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law in 1935, providing retired and disabled Americans with a financial safety net.

Unemployment Benefits:

If you have remained unemployed for reasons out of your control, you are entitled to this benefit. In most cases, workers can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks although payments are sometimes extended during periods of economic turmoil.

Whistleblower Protection:

These are often built into other pieces of legislation that govern an industry. This is supported by several statutes that help whistleblowers that report their employer for violation of the law.