Section 4 - Protecting Worker's Rights

Imagine that you have been working for a company for many years and suddenly new owners take over the business. Wanting to bring in workers from one of their other sites, they decide to lay off everyone where you work. Despite your years of service, you are not given any notice of the layoff, and you are not compensated in any way. Would this seem fair to you?

Situations like this one illustrate the need for laws to regulate (direct or control) the world of work. Of course, it is not just employees who benefit from the protection of laws; employers, as well, need laws to protect them from unscrupulous (dishonest) workers. Employment law seeks to find the middle ground between the rights and responsibilities of both groups.

In this section, you will investigate laws that govern the workplace. When you have finished, you should be able to explain why workers need the protection of laws; identify the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees; and outline protection and legal remedies for wrongs committed in the workplace.