Final answer:
HRM professionals must stay informed about employment legal issues such as union dynamics, wage and hour laws, and anti-discrimination regulations. Key laws like the FLSA and the Civil Rights Act offer essential protections for workers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trending legal issues regarding employment that HRM professionals should be aware of include the evolving landscape of union influences, regulations on wages and hours, and anti-discrimination laws. Unions have historically played a significant role in advocating for better pay, safe working conditions, shorter hours, and additional benefits. However, their actions, such as strikes and advocating for closed shops, can pose challenges for employers. Furthermore, legislation on minimum hourly wages, maximum working hours, prohibition of child labor, and workplace health and safety are critical areas. Preventing discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and age, along with requirements for family leave, notice of layoffs, unemployment insurance, and managing immigrant worker limits are other key areas of concern.
Key Legal Protections for Employees
The federal government has enacted several important laws to protect employee rights, including but not limited to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets minimum wage and overtime standards, and the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination.