Key Terms
Definition
A no-fault insurance system providing payment to employees for injuries incurred at work. Every state has one.
Basis
Employment is treated as an implied contractual relationship. When either party no longer wants to continue, they may en
Poor performance as good cause
Courts are more likely to uphold termination for poor performance when the employee received notice of the problem AND a
Protected class
A group protected by law from discrimination based on a personal characteristic.
Whistleblower
An employee who reports the employer's illegal behavior to a government or law enforcement agency.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Federal law passed in 1938. Applies to businesses with two or more employees engaged in interstate commerce.
Standard work week
40 hours Overtime: Required for hours worked beyond 40 in a week
Enforced by
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — an agency within the Department of Labor
Year enacted
1993 Applies to: Businesses with at least 50 workers engaged in interstate commerce
Guarantees
Up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for:
Employee eligibility requirement
Must have worked for the employer for at least one year.
Return rights
Employee must be allowed to return to the same or equivalent job with the same pay and benefits.
Requirement
Employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
Purpose
Quick, efficient delivery of disability and medical benefits to injured workers at a reasonable cost to employers.
ERISA requires
Employers disclose information about the funding and vesting of pension plans.