Below you will find pages that utilize the taxonomy term “Workplace”
Acts
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Labor & Employment Rights Timeline
Labor & Employment Rights – Timeline of Key Acts
U.S. labor and employment law has evolved over decades to protect workers’ rights, expand equality, and balance the power of employers and employees. Below is a timeline of the most impactful laws still shaping the workplace today.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA, 1938)
- Established the minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor protections.
- Codified at 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.
- Continues to be amended to adjust wage and hour standards.
Equal Pay Act (1963)
- Amended the FLSA to require equal pay for equal work regardless of sex.
- Foundation for modern pay equity litigation.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)
- Prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
- Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA, 1967)
- Prohibited discrimination against workers age 40 and over.
- Still a key protection for older employees.
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA, 1970)
- Established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- Required employers to provide workplaces “free from recognized hazards.”
Rehabilitation Act (1973)
- Prohibited discrimination on the basis of disability in federal programs and contractors.
- Precursor to the ADA.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990; amended 2008)
- Prohibited discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, and government services.
- Amended in 2008 to broaden the definition of disability.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA, 1993)
- Guaranteed eligible employees up to 12 weeks unpaid, job-protected leave for family or medical reasons.
- Expanded to include military caregiver leave provisions.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA, 1994)
- Protects the employment and reemployment rights of servicemembers returning from duty.
- Codified at 38 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4335.
Civil Rights Act of 1991
- Strengthened Title VII protections.
- Allowed jury trials and damages for intentional discrimination.
Recent Updates & Continuing Impact
- Wage, overtime, and leave standards continue to evolve through regulation and litigation.
- Debates continue over paid leave, minimum wage, gig work, and workplace discrimination.
- These laws remain the foundation of worker rights in the U.S.
Official Sources
Acts
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Drug-Free Workplace Act
Drug-Free Workplace Act (1988)
1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (41 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.)
2) Why It Was Done
The Act was passed to require federal contractors and grantees to maintain drug-free workplaces as a condition of receiving federal funding, part of the broader “War on Drugs.”
3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Prior federal laws regulated controlled substances but did not impose workplace drug-free requirements tied to federal contracts or grants. This Act created that obligation.