US EMPLOYMENT LAW

As the average employee spends half their time in the workplace, his/her employer is required to provide reasonably safe working conditions, as well as an environment free of harassment, hostility and discrimination.

Federal and state laws oversee everything from hiring to firing to ensure the fair treatment and well being of workers. Employment law regulates every aspect of employment. Employment law applies to employers, employees and independent contractors alike. From selecting and interviewing employees to work disputes and termination of employment, employment law creates specific guidelines, which both employers and employees must follow.

The majority of state laws say that employment is "at will," meaning the employer can terminate an employee from a position for any reason, so long as the reason is not an illegal reason. State employment laws also regulate employment contracts, and the clauses an employer or employee may find within employment contracts.

Both federal and state laws regulate employment discrimination, labor, and union issues. Generally, employment discrimination laws apply to all procedural steps of employment, including interviewing, hiring, advertising, giving raises, and firing employees. The laws state that an employer cannot discriminate on the basis of certain characteristics such as race, gender, age, national origin, disability and religion.