Chapter Summaries with Key Terms and Academic Vocabulary

Chapter 12: Workplace Legal Matters

Section 12.1 Summary
Labor laws help to ensure fair treatment for all employees in the workplace. The Fair Labor Standards Act established the minimum wage, the 40-hour workweek, and child labor law. Workers have the right to form or join labor unions, which negotiate with employers for better working conditions, salaries, and other benefits. The Family and Medical Leave Act guarantees up to 12 weeks a year for personal medical care or to care for a family member. Antidiscrimination laws protect workers from job discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, age, gender, and disability. Both genders have the right to a work environment free from sexual harassment.

Section 12.2 Summary
The legal system provides a set of procedures for resolving conflicts. Civil law applies to conflicts between private parties concerning rights and obligations. Small claims court is a low-cost alternative to a court trial. Ways to resolve a civil dispute without going to trial include mediation and arbitration. Criminal law involves criminal charges, which are brought by the government. More serious criminal offenses are felonies, and less serious offenses are misdemeanors. If you need to go to court, you should consult a lawyer. Before hiring a lawyer, ask about the lawyer’s specialty and fees, and how you can help with the work for your case.

Key Terms
minimum wage
compensatory time
collective bargaining
discrimination
affirmative action
sexual harassment
civil law
summons
criminal law
felony
misdemeanor
contingency fee

Academic Vocabulary
federal
procedures
contract