Research Guides: Government Research, Data &amp; Regulations: Work & Workers

Government Agencies and Laws About Work

The federal government maintains national regulations that protect workers, primarily through the Department of Labor. Most if not all of the government's protections for workers are the direct result of workers uniting to push for better work conditions.

Overview

Labor Laws & Issues (USA.gov)
USA.gov is the portal to information and research from government agencies. Labor Laws & Issues collects the various offices and laws relating to workers on one page to direct those who need help.

Hiring

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The government office that works to enforce a number of laws ensuring nondiscrimination in hiring.
EEOC: Guiding Laws
Federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, enforced by the EEOC.

Personal Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act
Guidance for employees who need to take personal leave for family or medical reasons and are entitled, under FMLA, to still have a job when the leave is over.

Pay

Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor)
"The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments." The FLSA is enforced by the Department of Labor.

Worker Safety & Insurance

Federal

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
The federal agency overseeing worker safety for private-sector employees (that is, not government employees) in a number of industries.
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
The federal agency overseeing worker safety in mining.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The government agency overseeing worker safety in aviation.

New Jersey

Workplace Health and Safety (NJ Department of Health)
The NJ state agency overseeing worker and workplace safety.
Workers' Compensation (NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
NJ rules on worker compensation insurance for employees injured on the job.

Worker's Rights

Collective bargaining: negotiation between an employer and a labor union usually on wages, hours, and working conditions (source: Merriam Webster)

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Created by Congress in 1935, the NLRB helps private-sector employees (that is, not government employees) work together whether in a union or not to push for better wages and treatment from their employers.
National Labor Relations Act (NLRB)
The 1935 law that established the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRA "grants employees the right to form or join unions; engage in protected, concerted activities to address or improve working conditions; or refrain from engaging in these activities."

Government Research, Data & Regulations

Government Agencies and Laws About Work

Overview

Hiring

Personal Leave

Pay

Worker Safety & Insurance

Federal

New Jersey

Worker's Rights

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