The laws regulating the workplace and employment relationship are complex and constantly changing. There is no one rule book. In order to apply employment law to resolve workplace issues, you must first understand that there are numerous sources of government regulation of the workplace: federal, state, and local governments. These sources have contributed to the creation of a complex framework of employer obligation and employee rights. To resolve a particular workplace legal problem, often all three sources of government regulations must be considered.
Employment law also develops broadly through the enactment of legislation, or statutes. Employment law is also refined through interpretative regulations of government enforcement agencies; it is also outlined in detail through the resolution of specific disputes in court cases. Often, to answer a specific employment law question will require you to look up court cases and/or regulations in addition to the statutory law.
Procedures for challenging alleged unlawful employment action are not the same in every case. Claims that employers violated certain state or federal employment-law statutes are sometimes first investigated by federal or state agencies before an employee can file suit in court. Other statutory rights and common-law rights may only be enforced through court decision.
It is useful to understand the procedures used by agencies and courts to determine employee legal rights and resolve workplace issues.