Work Laws and Responsibilities

1. 5 Work Laws and Responsibilities 5.1 Work-Related Forms and Laws 5.2 Responsibilities on the Job

2. Lesson 5.1Work-Related Forms and Laws GOALS • Discuss the purpose of various work-related forms. • Explain the provisions of major employment laws. Chapter 5

3. Required Work Forms • When you get a job, the government will require a number of forms containing information about you. • You will fill out some. • Others, your employer will complete. • If you are under age 16, you may also need a work permit. • Some forms, such as Forms W-2 and W-4, are part of the income tax process. Chapter 5

4. Form W-4: Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate • Form W-4 asks for your name, address, Social Security number, marital status, and the number of exemptions you are claiming for income tax purposes. • The information determines the amount your employer will withhold from your paycheck for income taxes. • Allowances are reductions in the amount of tax withheld from your paycheck. • Exempt status is available only to people who will not earn enough in the year to owe any federal income tax. Chapter 5

5. Social Security Taxes and Benefits • Employers withhold Social Security taxes from your pay and contribute matching amounts. • The amounts you earn and the amounts contributed for Social Security throughout your work life are credited to your Social Security account number. • When you become eligible, usually at retirement, benefits are paid to you monthly, based upon how much you have paid into your account. Chapter 5

6. Social Security Forms • Social Security Number • Your Social Security number is your permanent work identification number. • Social Security Card • Application for a card • Application for a replacement card • Social Security Statement of Earnings • Request for Social Security Statement of Earnings Chapter 5

7. Work Permit Application • Many states require minors—people under the age of legal adulthood—to obtain a work permit before they are allowed to work. • Where to get a work permit application: • Your state Department of Labor • School counseling center • Work experience coordinator Chapter 5

8. (continued) Work Permit Application • What you need in order to apply for a work permit: • Social Security number • Proof of age • Permission from your parent or legal guardian • There is usually no charge. Chapter 5

9. Form W-2:Wage and Tax Statement • Form W-2 is a summary of the income you earned during the year and all amounts the employer withheld for taxes. • Each of your employers must provide you with a Form W-2 for the previous tax year no later than January 31 of the current year. • Each of your employers sends a copy of your Form W-2 to the government. Chapter 5

10. Form I-9 • Before you start working, you and your employer must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification form, or Form I-9. • The purpose of this form is to verify the employee’s identity and eligibility to work in the United States. • Along with the form, you will be required to present forms of identification, which could include a driver’s license, passport, Social Security card, or birth certificate. Chapter 5

11. Employment Laws • The federal government has enacted many laws to protect workers. • The Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing labor laws that: • Provide unemployment, disability, and retirement insurance benefits • Establish a minimum wage and regular working hours • Establish rules regarding overtime pay • Help workers injured on the job • Provide equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination • Establish safe working conditions Chapter 5

12. Social Security Act • The Social Security Act, passed in 1935, established a national social insurance program that provides federal aid for the elderly and for disabled workers. • The Medicare provision, added in 1965, provides hospital and medical insurance for those 65 and older. • Social Security provides these benefits: • Old age retirement income (OA) • Survivorship income (S) • Disability income (D) • Health insurance (HI) Chapter 5

13. Unemployment Compensation • The Social Security Act requires every state to have an unemployment insurance program. • Unemployment insurance provides benefits to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. • After a waiting period, laid-off or terminated workers may collect a portion of their regular pay for a certain length of time. • Premiums for unemployment insurance are usually paid by employers. Chapter 5

14. Fair Labor Standards Act • The Fair Labor Standards Act, which is also known as the Wage and Hour Act, establishes a minimum wage. • It also requires hourly workers to be paid “overtime wages” of 1½ times their hourly rate for hours worked beyond 40 per week. • A minimum wage is the lowest wage that an employer may pay an employee as established by law. Chapter 5

15. Workers’ Compensation • Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that pays benefits to workers and/or their families for injury, illness, or death that occurs as a result of the job. • The employer is responsible for employee injuries and illnesses that are the result of employment, regardless of fault. Chapter 5

16. Family and Medical Leave Act • The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for certain medical and family situations. • Some employers may choose to pay employees during some types of leave, such as sick leave, but they are not required by law to do so. Chapter 5

17. (continued) Family and Medical Leave Act • Valid circumstances for unpaid leave under the FMLA include the following: • Birth and care of a newborn child, including adoption of a child • Care of an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition • Medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition Chapter 5

18. Laws Against Discrimination in Employment • Equal Pay Act • Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Age Discrimination in Employment Act • Americans with Disabilities Act Chapter 5

19. Lesson 5.2Responsibilities on the Job GOALS • Discuss employee responsibilities at work. • Describe employer responsibilities to employees. Chapter 5

20. Responsibilities to Employers • Competent work • The work needs to be marketable—that is, of such quality that the employer can sell it or use it to favorably represent the company. • Punctuality • Punctuality means being ready to start work at the appointed time. Chapter 5

21. (continued) Responsibilities to Employers • Pleasant attitude • Pleasant and easy to get along with • Courteous to customers • Loyalty and respect • Loyalty means that you show respect for your employer and the company for which you work, both on and off the job. Chapter 5

22. (continued) Responsibilities to Employers • Dependability • Dependability is a character trait that means you can be counted on to do what you say you will do. • Initiative • Initiative is taking the lead, recognizing what needs to be done, and doing it without having to be told. Chapter 5

23. (continued) Responsibilities to Employers • Interest • You should project an attitude of wanting to learn all you can and of giving all tasks your best effort. • Self-evaluation • The ability to take criticism and to assess your own progress is important to you and your employer. Chapter 5

24. Responsibilities to Other Employees • Teamwork • Teamwork means working cooperatively in order to achieve a group goal. • Thoughtfulness • Be considerate of coworkers to promote a good work atmosphere for everyone, including customers. • Loyalty • In addition to being loyal to your employer, you should be loyal to coworkers. Chapter 5

25. Responsibilities to Customers • Helpfulness • Identify what customer wants • Solve problems • Courtesy and respect • Your attitude toward customers should always be respectful and courteous, never hostile or unfriendly. Chapter 5

26. Employer Responsibilities • Adequate supervision • Supervision is providing new and current employees with the information and training they need to do their jobs well. • Fair human resource policies • Policies on hiring, firing, raises, promotions, and dispute resolution need to be fair and well defined. Chapter 5

27. (continued) Employer Responsibilities • Safe working conditions • Safe equipment • Safe working environment • Adequate training for working under dangerous conditions • Open channels of communication • Express concerns. • Ask questions. • Make suggestions. Chapter 5

28. (continued) Employer Responsibilities • Recognition of achievement • An employee evaluation is a report that discusses the employee’s strengths and weaknesses in performing the job and how well the employee helped to meet company goals. • As a result of evaluations, employees are given merit pay raises, bonuses, and advancement opportunities. Chapter 5