Chapter 5Chapter 5

Work Laws and Work Laws and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Lesson 5.1 Work-Related Lesson 5.1 Work-Related Forms and LawsForms and Laws

I.I. Required Work FormsRequired Work Forms

• A.A. Form W-4Form W-4– 1. Determines the amount your employer will 1. Determines the amount your employer will

withhold from your paycheck for taxes withhold from your paycheck for taxes– 2. Allowances—reduce the amount of tax 2. Allowances—reduce the amount of tax

withheld, if you have too little withheld, you withheld, if you have too little withheld, you will owe money at the end of the year will owe money at the end of the year

– 3. Exempt status—applies to people who will 3. Exempt status—applies to people who will not earn enough to owe any federal not earn enough to owe any federal

income income tax. No money is withheld for fed tax. No money is withheld for fed inc taxesinc taxes

B.B. Social Security FormsSocial Security Forms

• 1.1. Your social security number is Your social security number is your permanent work your permanent work identification numberidentification number

• 2.2. Employers withhold SS taxes Employers withhold SS taxes from from your pay and contribute your pay and contribute matching matching amounts (7.65% + amounts (7.65% + 7.65%) 7.65%)

• 3.3. Check occasionally to see that Check occasionally to see that your earnings are credited to your your earnings are credited to your accountaccount

C.C. Work Permit ApplicationWork Permit Application

•1.1. Minors—people Minors—people under the age under the age

of of adulthoodadulthood

•2.2. Minors must Minors must obtain a work obtain a work permit before they permit before they

are allowed to are allowed to workwork

D.D. Form W-2 Form W-2

• 1. 1. A summary of the income you A summary of the income you earned and taxes that were withheldearned and taxes that were withheld

• 2.2. Compare your W-2 to your last Compare your W-2 to your last check of the year to be sure it is check of the year to be sure it is accurateaccurate

• 3.3. Must receive your W-2 by January 31Must receive your W-2 by January 31

• 4.4. You must file your W-2 forms with You must file your W-2 forms with your tax returnyour tax return

II.II. Employment LawsEmployment Laws

A. Dept of Labor is responsible for A. Dept of Labor is responsible for enforcing labor laws that:enforcing labor laws that:

• 1. Provide unemployment, 1. Provide unemployment, disability, disability, and retirement and retirement insurance benefitsinsurance benefits

• 2. Establish a minimum wage and 2. Establish a minimum wage and regular working hoursregular working hours

• 3. Help workers injured on the job3. Help workers injured on the job

•4. 4. Provide equal Provide equal employment employment opportunities opportunities and prohibit and prohibit discriminationdiscrimination

•5. 5. Establish safe working Establish safe working conditionsconditions

• 1.1. More extensive safety More extensive safety precautions precautions and and

working conditionsworking conditions

• 2.2. Max hours and times minors can Max hours and times minors can work during school yearwork during school year

• 3.3. Work permitWork permit

B. Laws covering minors specify

•C.C. Social Security Act—Social Security Act—established established a national social a national social insurance that insurance that provides provides federal aid for the federal aid for the elderly elderly and disabled. Medicare and disabled. Medicare was was added in 1965.added in 1965.

•D. Unemployment D. Unemployment Compensation—Compensation— provides provides benefits to workers benefits to workers who lose who lose their job through no their job through no fault of fault of their owntheir own

E.E. Fair Labor Standards Fair Labor Standards ActAct

• 1.1. Establishes a minimum wageEstablishes a minimum wage

• 2.2. Requires overtime wages Requires overtime wages (1.5 X) (1.5 X) for for >40 hours/week>40 hours/week

• 3.3. 1938--.25/hour 1938--.25/hour

• 4.4. 1994--$5.15/hour 1994--$5.15/hour

• 5.5. 2011--$7.25/hour2011--$7.25/hour

F. F. Workers’ Compensation—Workers’ Compensation—insurance program that pays insurance program that pays benefits to workers and their benefits to workers and their families for injury, illness, or death families for injury, illness, or death that occurs as a result of the jobthat occurs as a result of the job

G. G. Family and Medical Leave Act Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)—allows employees to take (FMLA)—allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for certain a 12-month period for certain medical and family situationsmedical and family situations

H.H. Laws Against Laws Against Discrimination in Discrimination in EmploymentEmployment• 1.1. Equal Pay Act—Prohibits Equal Pay Act—Prohibits

unequal unequal pay for men and pay for men and women doing women doing similar worksimilar work

• 2.2. Civil Rights Act of 1964—Civil Rights Act of 1964—Prohibits Prohibits discrimination in discrimination in hiring, training, hiring, training, and promotion and promotion based on race, based on race, color, gender, color, gender, religion, or national religion, or national origin.origin.

• 3.3. Age Discrimination in Age Discrimination in Employment Employment Act—prohibits Act—prohibits discrimination in discrimination in employment employment decisions against decisions against people age people age 40 and over40 and over

• 4.4. American with Disabilities American with Disabilities Act—Act— Prohibits discrimination Prohibits discrimination on the on the basis of physical or basis of physical or mental mental disabilitiesdisabilities

Lesson 5.2 Responsibilities Lesson 5.2 Responsibilities on the Jobon the Job

A.A. Employee Employee ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities1.1. Responsibilities to EmployersResponsibilities to Employers

a. Competent Work—work needs to be a. Competent Work—work needs to be marketablemarketable

b.b. Punctuality—be on time, don’t Punctuality—be on time, don’t abuse abuse breaksbreaks

• c.c. Pleasant Attitude—be pleasant Pleasant Attitude—be pleasant and easy and easy to get along withto get along with

• d.d. Loyalty and Respect—respect the Loyalty and Respect—respect the company on and off the jobcompany on and off the job

• e.e. Dependability—follow throughDependability—follow through

• f.f. Initiative—recognize what Initiative—recognize what needs needs to be done and do itto be done and do it

• g.g. Interest—be enthusiastic Interest—be enthusiastic about about your jobyour job

• h.h. Self-evaluation—take Self-evaluation—take constructive constructive criticism and criticism and assess your own assess your own progressprogress

EmployeeEmployee ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

2.2. Responsibilities to Other Responsibilities to Other EmployeesEmployees

• a.a. Teamwork—work Teamwork—work cooperativelycooperatively

• b.b. Thoughtfulness—be Thoughtfulness—be considerate, considerate, have a pleasant have a pleasant attitudeattitude

• c.c. Loyalty—do not spread Loyalty—do not spread rumors rumors about co-workersabout co-workers

3.3. Responsibilities to Responsibilities to CustomersCustomers

• a.a. Helpfulness—reflects well on Helpfulness—reflects well on the the companycompany

• b.b. Courtesy and respect—Courtesy and respect—customer customer pays your wages, pays your wages, without them, without them, the business the business could not existcould not exist

B.B. Employer Employer ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

• 1.1. Adequate supervision—provide Adequate supervision—provide appropriate training, communicationappropriate training, communication

• 2.2. Fair Human Policies—see Fair Human Policies—see Employee Employee Handbook: Should spell Handbook: Should spell out policies out policies on hiring, firing, raises, on hiring, firing, raises, advancement, advancement, dispute resolutiondispute resolution

• 3.3. Safe Working Conditions—safe Safe Working Conditions—safe equipment, environment, trainingequipment, environment, training

• 4.4. Open Channels of CommunicationOpen Channels of Communication—— express concerns, ask questions, express concerns, ask questions,

make suggestionsmake suggestions

• 5.5. Recognition of Achievement—Recognition of Achievement—reward reward for above-average for above-average performance performance motivates workersmotivates workers

• 6.6. Compliance with Employment Compliance with Employment LawsLaws

Employer Employer ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

C.C. Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

• 1.1. Any unwelcome advance, request Any unwelcome advance, request for for sexual favors, offensive verbal or sexual favors, offensive verbal or

physical conductphysical conduct

• 2.2. All employees should be aware of All employees should be aware of what what sexual harassment is and sexual harassment is and how to avoid how to avoid itit– a. Don’t tell inappropriate jokes or a. Don’t tell inappropriate jokes or

engage in engage in suggestive behavior suggestive behavior– b. Always dress and act professionallyb. Always dress and act professionally– c. Do not contribute to the situationc. Do not contribute to the situation

Summary Summary

• Form W-4 determines the amount your Form W-4 determines the amount your employer will withhold from your paycheck employer will withhold from your paycheck for taxesfor taxes

• Your contributions to social security Your contributions to social security throughout your work life determine the throughout your work life determine the payments you will receive during payments you will receive during retirementretirement

• If you are under age 18, you will need a If you are under age 18, you will need a work permit to hold a jobwork permit to hold a job

SummarySummary

• Form W-2 summarizes wages and amounts Form W-2 summarizes wages and amounts withheld for taxes that yearwithheld for taxes that year

• The Fair Labor Standards Act sets a The Fair Labor Standards Act sets a minimum wage and overtime payminimum wage and overtime pay

• Workers’ compensation pays benefits for Workers’ compensation pays benefits for injury, illness, or death resulting from the injury, illness, or death resulting from the jobjob

• The Family and Medical Leave Act allows The Family and Medical Leave Act allows employees to take unpaid leave for family employees to take unpaid leave for family and medical reasonsand medical reasons

SummarySummary

• The Equal Pay Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Equal Pay Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act protect Americans with Disabilities Act protect employees from discriminationemployees from discrimination

• Your responsibilities to your employer include Your responsibilities to your employer include competent work, a pleasant attitude, competent work, a pleasant attitude, punctuality, loyalty, dependability, initiative, punctuality, loyalty, dependability, initiative, interest, and self-evaluationinterest, and self-evaluation

• Your responsibilities to your co-workers Your responsibilities to your co-workers include teamwork, thoughtfulness, and include teamwork, thoughtfulness, and loyaltyloyalty

SummarySummary

• Your responsibilities to customers Your responsibilities to customers include helpfulness, courtesy, and include helpfulness, courtesy, and respectrespect

• Your employer is responsible for Your employer is responsible for giving you good supervision, safe giving you good supervision, safe working conditions, fair policies, open working conditions, fair policies, open communications, rewards, and communications, rewards, and compliance with employment lawscompliance with employment laws