What is the Law Regarding Employment in New Bedford?
In New Bedford, employment law means those laws covering employee and employer relationships, as well as independent contractors. Employment issues that are regulated by these laws include hiring policies, wage amounts, and termination procedures. A basic understanding of New Bedford employment laws is required for both the employee and their employer.
"At-Will" vs. Contract Employment Terms
Most of the time employment is considered to be "at-will", although in some instances there may be an employment contract between the employer and employee for a set period of time. In "at-will" employment, either the employer or the worker can terminate the job at any time, just as long as the reasons for doing so are not illegal. In the instance that the employer and employee have an employment contract, regulations from both the state and federal government will apply to the city of New Bedford
Anti-Discrimination laws in New Bedford
The laws applicable for citizens of New Bedford generally make discrimination illegal at any phase of employment, such as hiring, working environment, and terminations. People who live and work in New Bedford must follow laws which make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of certain categories. These categories include race, gender, age, national origin, and disability.
A claim regarding discrimination may be heard at an administrative agency like EEOC. Many lawyers specialize in the field of employment discrimination.