What Your Business Should Know About Employee Laws

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Are you finally ready to begin your business journey? Or are you a manager of a thriving business and are looking into employee laws? Owning and operating a business is no easy job. Launching a business requires plenty of preparation, such as creating a business plan and securing funding for your business. When hiring employees, the process can come with challenges when you do not understand their obligations under the law. The law expects employers to be responsible for protecting the rights of their employees. Employee laws are guidelines that provide protections and ensure that employees are safe and protected in the workplace. When these employee laws are not followed, you risk receiving financial penalties and lawsuits. Companies that can afford it take the extra mile of hiring HR professionals or legal counsel to be informed of what they need to do and any changes made in that area. However, small businesses might not have that luxury, so they must find a way to stay on top of these issues.

Read on to find out what your business should know about employee laws.

You should have an employment contract with every employee

Employment contracts convey the terms and conditions of the job and details the capacity in which a particular employee is being hired and what their job responsibilities are. Other details that can be found in an employment contract include:

• The employment term.

• Compensation and benefits expected from the employer.

• Terms and conditions for termination of an employee.

The purpose of these contracts is to provide security and protection for both the employee and the employer. Employees benefit from employment contracts as they create a level of job stability and predictability that they need to function at maximum productivity. If you are finding it hard to draft up these contracts, you can reach out to an L&I attorney in Seattle or your particular locale for legal advice. These employment contracts give a reasonable basis for better relationships between employees or employers and consider employee laws.

You should be aware of the significant employment rights workers have

Employee rights are made up of laws extending from local and state levels to federal levels. These laws were created to ensure that there are guidelines and regulations for employers and employees. The laws also offer a level of protection and structure for the employee. Businesses need to be aware of these laws. When a business violates these employee laws, it will face the consequences through governmental fines and legal actions. By understanding these employee rights, you can expect a healthy and functioning workplace. These rights include employees being treated fairly and equally based on the work that they do, protection during unavoidable workplace absences such as sickness or family leave, being conscious when assigning work to your employees past regular work hours; fostering a safe workplace; and not retaliating against your employees when they try to exercise their rights.

You are required to establish a payroll

Establishing a payroll includes cutting checks or direct deposit or ensuring that relevant state, local and federal taxes are taken out of employee paychecks. You must put a system in place to track payments, applicable taxes, and other deductions during each pay period. This ensures that all labor and tax laws will adhere correctly. A business that fails to process payroll correctly might find itself facing significant penalties. When you use a payroll management service, you limit the business’s legal liability. An employer must also be aware of state and federal taxes it owes on behalf of its employees. With a payroll in place, you can be able to: 

• Manage and streamline payroll-related rules, regulations, and services

• Maintain employer compliance

• Save your business fines and fees 4. Your business should ensure that workplace safety is a top priority.

Workplace safety is one of the topmost priorities for businesses across the world. The laws associated with workplace safety refer to providing a conducive working environment, safe equipment, policies, and procedures to ensure your workers enjoy a high level of health and safety. Some of the rights included in workplace safety include:

• The right to be aware of health and safety matters. 

• The right to be a participant in decisions that could affect their health and safety.

•  The right to say no to work that could affect their health and safety or that of others.

Conclusion 

Employee laws are designed to protect the employee's rights and include almost all other aspects of the employer/employee relationship. With these laws in place, you can be sure that your business will avoid penalties and fines associated with breaking these rules.