For your business to remain compliant, there are vital laws for employers that must be followed. If your business has over 100 employees, you must comply with these fundamental laws and regulations or face extreme consequences. Take a look at these commonly-cited laws and how they have the potential to impact your business.
Employment laws may lay out specific terms of employment for protected classes.
Title VII is a popularly-referenced act prohibiting discrimination based on any protected class, including race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
The ADA establishes strict guidelines for businesses to employ or work with people with disabilities. Not only does the ADA require accessible design standards, but it also lays out requirements for what reasonable aids and services a business may need to provide for employees with disabilities.
The ADEA prohibits discrimination against employees over 40 in hiring, promotion, discharge, or compensation for employment. It also notes that employers cannot have different terms for employees over 40 than they do for younger employees.
The FLSA establishes:
FMLA allows up to 12 work weeks of leave for employees following the birth of a child, the placement of a child for adoption or foster care, or caring for family members with serious medical needs. It allows up to 26 work weeks of leave to care for a covered service member in case of a relevant illness or injury.
Health and safety laws help offer protection for employees on the job.
OSHA lays out clear standards employers must follow to provide a safe workplace for their workers.
Workers' compensation laws, which vary by state, layout workers' right to compensation, including payment for medical costs and financial support equal to around 2/3 of the employee's wage, for employees who suffer injuries at work.
The ACA helps make health insurance more affordable to as many people as possible. It also governs when employers may need to offer health insurance.
Tax laws may help determine your business's responsibility when paying taxes.
Businesses, as well as employees, must pay a federal income tax. These tax rates increase as income increases. Employers must understand federal income taxes and withholding for employees and the business.
Most states have income taxes, which employers may need to take out of their employees' paychecks. Failure to pay those state taxes on time can result in significant financial penalties to the business.
In addition to federal income taxes, employers must be in compliance with laws regarding Social Security and Medicare taxes, which will need to be taken out of employees' paychecks.
Unemployment insurance tax ensures employees can procure unemployment if laid off for covered reasons.
Privacy laws help protect employees' overall right to privacy and govern what information employers can share. Privacy laws may also govern what information can be collected and shared about customers.
HIPAA protects against sharing private health information. It also ensures that individuals have the right to control how their health information is used.
The FTC establishes consumer protection laws against fraud and unfair business practices that could pose a danger to customers.
GDPR is a European act that establishes data protection laws and security requirements across Europe.
Immigration laws help govern how employers work with immigrants.
IRCA requires employers to verify their employees' identities and establish employment eligibility.
The H1-B Visa Program allows employers to hire specialty workers from outside the United States, even when those workers have no intention of immigrating.
There is a wide range of employment laws, requirements, and regulations that employers must take into consideration when hiring, managing employees, and more. Failure to meet those essential regulations can lead to significant fines and penalties for the business. At PRO Resources, we can help ensure compliance, review policies, and procedures, and help your company avoid those costly fines and limitations. Reach out to PRO Resources to start a conversation about reducing risk and improving compliance.