Employment Law

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

The OHS Act came about because of the high incidents of workplace accidents causing a burden on commerce due to lost wages, medical compensation, loss of production and increase of disability expenses. The OSH Act of 1970 was developed in congress, to assure safe and healthful working conditions for every employee by providing research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health. The OSH Act protects employers as well as employees. With the correct training to its employees the employer will have less production loss and medical compensation, due to injury or illness. Employees that are properly trained in the safe way to do their job will benefit with less time missed due to injury or illness.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Because of WWII many women were taking jobs in the workforce and were not getting paid the same wages as men in the same or similar jobs. In 1942 the National War Board asked employers to voluntarily adjust the wages for women, but employers rejected this request. Because of an employee shortage in the early 1960's companies started to hire more women. There were two classes of jobs, the men's jobs that paid more, and the women's jobs that paid less. This was a common practice by employers until June 10, 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was passed making it illegal to pay women less for same or similar jobs. The Equal Pay Act states that No employer shall discriminate, between employees on the basis of sex by paying wages to employees at a rate less than the rate at which he pays wages to employees of the opposite sex for equal work on jobs the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions. This Act is a great step forward for female employees; they are now getting paid close to what their male counterparts are getting paid.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Following several...