Employment Law

Catalog description

Examines the legal and regulatory environment of employment relationships. Topics include anti-discrimination; worker health and safety; and labor relations laws. B LAW 446 Employment Law (3) The course is designed for business students seeking a solid understanding of labor relations and employment law. It is not a general overview or introduction to law course for those seeking to enter law school. Labor and employment law has developed and changed over the past seven decades, and continues to evolve as the economic model and means of productions changes globally. With the passing of the National Labor Relations Act and subsequent amendments thereto, including development in the ability of public employees to engage in concerted activity, the understanding of the modifications in the employer-employee relationships is necessary for successful business executives and front-line managers. While a thorough understanding of the underpinnings of these laws is necessary, this is only a portion of the issues at hand. The ability to apply these laws in current working environments along with interpreting and critiquing these laws will assist in the preparation of future corporate managers. The course goes into detailed discussion regarding the employment at will doctrine, wrongful discharge, workplace torts, and employee privacy and monitoring. With this foundation, the course then covers civil rights and discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, family obligation, disability, and national origin are covered using Supreme Court cases that have tested the validity and soundness of our federal legislation. The closing part of the course focuses on organized labor through the process of unionizing and union membership, negotiations and economic pressure used to obtain concessions in collective agreements. Additionally, fair labor laws and occupational health and safety requirements to diminish workplace accidents and improve productivity is discussed. For each of the topics presented, detailed analysis of prominent cases will be discussed with the expectation that students can apply these case decisions to current employer/employee situations. Exposure to differing opinions, reversed rulings, and detailed legal processes will provide students with a broad understanding of the complex nature of legal proceedings and how these processes impact labor and employment relations in the United States. Content synthesis and critical analysis are the learning goals of the course.