What is the Law Regarding Employment in Washington County?
Employees, employers and independent contractors in Washington County are governed by employment law. This area of law regulates such employment issues as hiring procedures, wage amounts, and termination. Employers and their employees alike should be knowledgeable of Washington County employment laws.
"At-Will" vs. Contract Employment Terms
Sometimes an employment contract is used that sets a specific length of employment, but most of the times employment is considered to be on an "at-will" basis. "At-will" employers or employees may terminate the employment at any given time, if the reasons are not illegal. When the parties use an employment contract, the terms of employment will be regulated by their state and federal laws, as applied to people living in Washington County.
Anti-Discrimination laws in Washington County
Laws which make discrimination illegal at all stages of employment including hiring, wages, and termination policies, all apply to Washington County citizens. People living in Washington County must abide by laws stating it is illegal for employers to discriminate against people who belong to certain classes. These classes may be based on race, national origin, gender, religion, disability, and age.
A claim regarding discrimination may be heard at an administrative agency like EEOC. Many lawyers specialize in the field of employment discrimination.
