Labor laws vary on a state level but are also dictated by federal laws and decisions made by courts. The Clayton Act also covered labor organizations, such as labor unions, and forbade businesses to prohibit employees from joining unions.
Labor laws were first enacted to protect children, often who were laboring for extremely long hours under harsh conditions. New England passed the first laws governing the use of child labor in 1832. Today's labor laws are defining the working rights of those who enter our country illegally and what, if any, protection should be granted them and their children.
How many of you have been protected by labor laws without even realizing it?
Your future, or the future of your grandchildren and great grandchildren, may even require new laws governing work under the sea or on in space.
It was not until 1967 that laws were passed that prohibited age discrimination. It was not until 1964 that Congress passed Public Labor Law 82-352 that forbid discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age. Labor laws are extremely complex and cover discrimination as well as a range of other employee rights. Rights include fair wages based on minimum wage requirements, the right to work regardless of age and the right to be paid overtime wages if you exceed the forty hour work week. The labor laws do not cover vacation time, sick time or other compensated or uncompensated time off, but does cover things like breaks at work including lunch breaks. The study of labor laws is fascinating and impacts every person who works or is seeking work.
You want to feel like the place you work at is safe and having labor laws helps you to be safe. The business that you work for has to conform to these laws so that everybody that works there does so in a safe environment.
There were no laws in place to protect them and going to work could be a scary proposition.
To make you feel safer if there are laws that help make sure that you can be safe at work.
