You need to know about laws governing the employment relationship
As an employer, you have to follow a host of state and federal laws that regulate your relationship with your employees. Among the things you’ll be expected to know and understand are:
- Proper hiring practices, how to conduct interviews and record keeping.
- Rules on hiring and working with independent contractors, including tips on how to avoid misclassification problems.
- Wage and hour laws, including those governing the minimum wage, overtime, and Exempt and non-exempt employees.
- How to avoid harassment and discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including gender, age, race, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, and national origin.
- The requirements for benefits programs, vacation, sick, holiday, leave of absence.
- ACA definition of a full-time employee, introductory period, when health care benefits have to start.
- How to write an employee handbook, conduct performance reviews, and discipline employees.
- OSHA and other workplace health and safety laws, including health care reform, workers’ compensation, and rules on employee alcohol and drug use.
- How to terminate the employment relationship.
- How to protect your business and respect employee’s rights when they leave.
- What the law allows if you want to run a background check, do a workplace search, or monitor employee conduct.
- Keeping up with the ever-changing employment law.