The first basic principle of employment law is the fairness principle. This principle underlies the laws that set a uniform, minimum standard and prevent exploitation of such vulnerable labor sources as children, temps, women, and aliens. One employment law in this category is FLSA, which states that all employees must be paid at least the federal minimum wage, and “Where federal and state laws differ, employers must follow the law most favorable to employees.” The second principle of employment law is the Equity Principle. This states that all employees must be treated equally and afforded equal opportunity and underlies a large body of antidiscrimination employment law. One such employment law, the Equal Pay Act, states that “Women’s pay must be equal to men’s for equal or equivalent work.” The third principle, the Principle of Rights, holds that going to work for someone shouldn’t mean that people surrender their rights as citizens. Employment law in this category includes the OSH Act, which states that “Employees have the right to a safe work environment that is not harmful to their health.” Employment Laws in Plain-English are at your Fingertips Learn more about the basic principles of employment law at HR.BLR.com, the human resource specialists. HR.BLR.com is the most complete source for practical human resources advice and plain-English compliance analysis available anywhere. No matter what the HR topic - from the basic principles of employment law to sample policies and contracts - you’ll find hands-on help you can count on. As the laws in different states on Human Resources get more complex, keeping current can spell the difference between success and disaster. The HR.BLR.com editorial staff keeps you up-to-date on all the important human resource developments. The HR Library has more helpful principles of employment law resources like these: Overview of Major Employment Laws Employment Law in Your State Employment Forms