Several government agencies and laws exist to protect the employees of businesses. These agencies and their respective laws require small business owners to comply in order to protect the rights and opportunities of employees. Compliance with the laws also helps business owners to avoid any kind of potential conflict, legal issues, fines, or other types of penalties.
Follow these steps to complete this activity. You will create a chart in a word processing program based on the directions below.
Step 1:
Create a 3-column, 6-row chart
In the first row at the top of the chart:
Label the first column “Agency/Law”
Label the second column “Description”
Label the third column “Example”
Step 2:
List the following agencies/laws in the first column under the “Agency/Law” heading:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Step 3:
IIn the second column under the “Description” heading for each agency or law:
Provide a brief description of the type of law or agency covered.
Describe the function of that agency or law.
Step 4:
In the third column under the “Example” heading for each agency or law:
Provide one example of how the law/agency would be applied.
Provide one example of a violation of that law/agency.
Agency/Law | Description | Example
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OSHA | Ensures safe and healthy work environments for employees | OSHA sets and enforces safety standards in workplaces to prevent accidents and injuries | An example of OSHA being applied is when a construction company is required to provide workers with safety equipment such as hard hats, gloves, and safety harnesses. | A violation of OSHA would be if a restaurant owner fails to properly maintain the kitchen equipment, leading to a fire hazard for the employees.
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EEOC | Protects employees from discrimination in the workplace | EEOC investigates complaints of workplace discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or genetic information. | An example of EEOC being applied is when a company is required to provide reasonable accommodations for a disabled employee, such as modifying their workspace or providing assistive technology. | A violation of EEOC would be if a hiring manager refuses to hire an applicant based on their gender or race.
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ADA | Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities | ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and ensures equal opportunity in employment. | An example of ADA being applied is when a company builds wheelchair ramps and accessible restrooms to accommodate employees with mobility impairments. | A violation of ADA would be if an employer refuses to hire a qualified candidate solely based on their disability.
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FMLA | Provides eligible employees with unpaid leave for family and medical reasons | FMLA allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, serious health conditions, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition. | An example of FMLA being applied is when an employee takes leave to care for their parent who has a serious illness. | A violation of FMLA would be if an employer terminates an employee for taking FMLA leave or retaliates against them for exercising their rights under the act.
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FLSA | Establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards | FLSA requires employers to pay employees at least the federal minimum wage, provide overtime pay for hours worked beyond 40 in a week, and restricts the types of work that minors can perform. | An example of FLSA being applied is when an employer pays employees the minimum wage and properly calculates and compensates for overtime hours worked. | A violation of FLSA would be if an employer pays employees below the minimum wage or fails to pay overtime to eligible employees who work more than 40 hours in a week.