CHANGES IN EMPLOYEE RIGHTS DUE TO LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS OR COURT RULINGS. Essay

Submitted By micholas
Words: 2234
Pages: 9

CHANGES IN EMPLOYEE RIGHTS DUE TO LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS OR COURT RULINGS. MICHOLAS A. CREDLE FINAL PAPER ABSTRACT As of recent years the U.S. House of Representatives is controlled by a Republican majority that has opposed many pro-labor initiative. The U.S. Senate remains under the Democratic majority currently. There still remains a critical political gridlock between both parties and does not seem to look promising until the end of 2014. It has been stated that the Obama administration’s has used the strategy of utilizing the executive branch’s regulatory authority to circumvent the standstill between the parties. Challenges in court have become the standard, and emblematical decisions have now begun to be handed down to lower authorities. INTRODUCTION This paper will examine the changes in employee rights due to legislation, regulations, and court rulings. The research conducted for this following information includes articles, newspapers, magazines, and internet sources from the last decade explicitly detailing the changes over these recent years. This paper will show the problem with employees rights, then show potential solution. Following this analysis a summary, will be conducted with the findings and recommendations for further research will be provided. The conclusion will encompass the entire papers goal, mission and purpose. The changes in employee rights have been significantly impacted for the greater good due to legislation, regulation, and court rulings. PROS AND CONS OF BACKGROUND CHECKS Lets first examine the pros of employee background checks specifically laid out from a respectable and noteworthy organization A Matter of FACT(2). They state ten key pros to background check of employees: Increase Applicant and New Hire Quality Reduce Workplace Violence Protect Against Negligent Hiring Liability Reduce Employee Dishonesty Losses Screen Employees with Access to Living Quarters Reduce Employee Turnover: Hire the Right People Avoid Negative Publicity Meet Regulatory, Insurance, and Customer Requirements The Bottom Line: Success Background Check Pros for Employees These ten supporting initiatives provide an employer an in depth view into a future employee. Thus enabling a true depiction of who they are interviewing and accepting into their professional culture and climate. There are also cons they can become distracters for employers as well. Time, money are the two major setbacks for employers when conducting background checks. These efforts often limit an employers hiring process, therefore employers take short cuts by not conducting thorough checks and saving money at the same time. DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE Discrimination in the workplace has come quite a long way since the Civil Rights ACT of 1964. As this landmark piece of civil rights legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, it can also be attributed to opening the door for future cases dealing with gender affinity and quid pro quo laws as well. According to US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (3), Federal laws concerning workplace discrimination are enforced by different Federal agencies. Unless governmental agencies speak with only one voice on matters of employment nondiscrimination, workers may confuse what rights they have and how to protect them, thus employers may be uncertain of their obligations and how to voluntarily comply with their legal duties. DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS In recent news within the United States Armed Forces domestic partner benefits have approved for its members and their significant other. This piece of legislation is monumental due to the September 22, 2012 repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell affording members, homosexual in nature to openly serve in the Armed Forces. As the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (4) states “Employers do not need to require documentation of domestic partner eligibility. If an employer does require documentation, it can either define