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Federal Employment Laws 

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Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

• Prohibits discrimination against employees 40 years of age and older.
• Website: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/adea.cfm

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

• Provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children with the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates.
• Website: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html

Department of Labor (DOL)

• Enforces federal laws such as wage and hour, workplace safety, workers’ compensation, employee benefits, wage garnishment, plant closings and layoffs.
• Website: http://www.dol.gov/

Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

• Sets the minimum standards for pension plans in private industry such as participation in plans, vesting, benefits accrual and funding, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Website: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-erisa.htm

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)    

• Enforces federal laws related to discrimination in the workplace related to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age (40+), disabilities, and genetic information. Employers with 15+ employees are covered by the EEOC (20+ for age discrimination matters).
• Website: www.eeoc.gov

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

• Sets the standards for wages and overtime pay.
• Website: http://www.dol.gov/whd/flsa/

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

• Provides certain protections and requirements related to qualified employees for time off for the birth of a child, placement of a child (adoption or foster care) to care for them, caring for an employee’s spouse, child, or parent’s serious health condition, a serious health condition rendering the employee unable to perform the essential functions of their job, qualifying exigency arising out of the employee’s spouse, so, daughter, or parent who is a covered military member on covered active duty, or caring for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.
• Website: http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

• Prohibits genetic information discrimination in employment.
• Website: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/genetic.cfm

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

• Provides protection to eligible individuals related to exclusions from benefits plans due to preexisting conditions, enrollment in group health plans due to loss of coverage or life events, access to individual health plans, and prohibits discrimination based upon certain health factors.
• Website: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Sets and enforces safety and health related laws and conditions in the workplace.
• Website: http://www.osha.gov/

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

• Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
• Website: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)

• Provides information related to members and veterans of the armed forces and reemployment as well as protection for disabled veterans.
• Website: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/

Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)

• Requires advance notification for plant closings and mass layoffs.
• Website: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-warn.htm