What are the laws and regulations regarding employee rights and benefits?

Employee rights and benefits are governed by both state and federal laws in Washington. These laws provide employees with protection against discrimination, promote workplace safety, and provide benefits such as minimum wage, overtime pay, sick leave, and unemployment insurance. At the federal level, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, and other workplace protections. It requires that most employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour, as of January 2021, as well as overtime pay of 1.5 times their regular rate for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Washington state also has its own set of labor standards, which frequently go beyond the level of protection provided by federal law. For example, Washington sets a higher minimum wage than the federal rate, and also requires employers to provide certain benefits, such as paid sick leave. Employees in Washington are also protected from discrimination in the workplace, as these issues are addressed by both federal and state laws. Specifically, both the Washington Law Against Discrimination and Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, and other protected characteristics. Finally, employers in Washington are also required to provide workers’ compensation benefits, which include medical and wage replacement benefits to employees who have been injured or become ill due to their job. This law ensures that employees are taken care of in the event of workplace injury or illness.

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What are the laws and regulations regarding employee rights and benefits?

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