What is employment law?
Employment law is a set of legal rules that govern employer-employee relationships. It sets standards for wages, hours worked, health and safety in the workplace, and more. Employment law is designed to ensure that employers and employees are treated fairly during the course of employment. In Washington, the primary law governing employment is known as the Washington Minimum Wage Act. This law sets the minimum wage at $13.69 per hour, as of January 2021. It requires employers to provide a minimum level of benefits, including family and medical leave, paid sick leave, and vacation or holiday pay. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries also enforces workplace safety laws, seeking to ensure that employers provide a safe environment for their employees to work in. The Department of Labor & Industries handles complaints involving discrimination, wage and hour violations, harassment, and other workplace issues. Employment law also governs the hiring process, including anti-discrimination laws that protect employees from being discriminated against based on their race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age, disability or religion. This helps ensure that employers consider qualified employees for positions on the basis of merit, and not on the basis of race or other protected categories. Employment law is designed to ensure that employers and employees both receive fair treatment during the course of employment. It helps to ensure that employers provide a safe working environment and that employees are paid fair wages.
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