The employment relationship serves an important role in structuring the lives of most adults in the United States. Employment provides wages, and often, a slew of benefits including health care and retirement pensions. It also provides a sense of stability and routine, and can even serve as the foundation of our identities. Legal disputes about the employment relationship occupy a significant segment of the legal market and consume a significant proportion of legal resources. This course offers students an overview of the important legal issues that are raised in the context of the employment relationship. It examines the law governing the employment relationship, including the establishment and termination of that relationship. The course will discuss employment issues, such as contractual employment agreements, wrongful discharge, regulation of wage and hour laws (FLSA), leave (e.g., FMLA), safety (OSHA and workers comp), unemployment insurance, privacy and freedom of speech, intellectual property issues (such as R&D ownership, trade secrets and noncompetition clauses), the developing concept of unjust discharge, and regulations providing protection of retirement benefits. Throughout the course, students will be able to deepen their study of contract law, torts, and statutory and regulatory processes through the context of the law of the work. The course does not cover either Employment Discrimination or Labor Law, both of which are offered as separate courses. (3 Credits)
Fall 2018
Saru Matambanadzo
Labor & Employment Law