Employment and slavery are essentially different in nature
. A slave had no rights and privileges. But as an employee of an organization you have certain rights that you could exercise. It is your responsibility to stop being treated like a slave by your employer. Only when you know about your rights as an employee would you be able to understand their actual implications.
There are various legislations in the US that outline the basics of employment and the employer-employee relationship. One such is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Considered to be one of the significant employment laws, this act provides suitable conclusion to the most disputed of topics wages and work hours.
Though the act has been implemented on a federal basis, each US state has come up with similar rules and regulations as well. For New Jersey the legislation is called the New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law. The minimum wage for employees in the state is $7.25 on an hourly basis. This has come into effect on and from July 24, 2009.
The work hours stipulated by the law is 40 hours in a week. In case of overtime, the employer needs to provide the employees with one and one-half per hour. As per the NJ law any time excess of the 40 hours is calculated on the weekly basis and overtime is paid accordingly. However there are certain exemptions to this rule as well.
There are a number of state specific laws that define the working relationship between the employer and the employee. Some of these are as follows:
New Jersey State Wage Payment Law
New Jersey Child Labor Law
New Jersey Industrial Homework Law
New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act
New Jersey Apparel Registration Act
Its best to consider a consultation with a good employment lawyer of New Jersey to know more about these rules and regulations. They would be the most helpful source of information in this regard. With this knowledge you would also be able to understand whether you are being treated fairly by your employer or not.
How do you find the best of the lot? Its not at all difficult if you know the right sources. It is wise if you could find an employment attorney from your contacts. Perhaps a colleague had faced a similar situation or your lawyer has a friend practicing in the field. You can also opt for an online search.
In the preliminary stage, fix an appointment with the NJ employment attorney for a consultation. Ask whatever comes to your mind regarding employment and labor laws. Provide all information about the issue. A productive session means you have found the right attorney for your case.