LAW 560: Employment Law

Labor Relations, Discrimination, Wage/Hour & Workplace Safety

Overview

This course covers employment law fundamentals including the at-will employment doctrine, statutory protections against discrimination, wage and hour regulation, occupational safety requirements, and the national labor relations framework. The course emphasizes federal statutory protections (Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA) and state common law doctrines, with attention to employer liability and defenses.

Employment law is essential for in-house counsel, employment lawyers, and HR professionals. The course develops practical understanding of compliance requirements and litigation dynamics in employment disputes.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand at-will employment doctrine and common law exceptions
  • Apply Title VII discrimination analysis to employment decisions
  • Analyze disability discrimination and reasonable accommodations under ADA
  • Understand age discrimination and retaliation protections under ADEA
  • Apply minimum wage, overtime, and classification requirements under FLSA
  • Evaluate workplace safety obligations and OSHA requirements

Lecture Topics

At-Will Employment Doctrine

At-will rule, common law exceptions, public policy exceptions, and implied contract theories.

Title VII Discrimination Framework

Protected classes, disparate treatment, disparate impact, and mixed-motive discrimination.

Sexual Harassment & Hostile Work Environment

Quid pro quo harassment, hostile environment standard, and employer liability for harassment.

Disability Discrimination & ADA

Disability definition, reasonable accommodations, undue hardship, and interactive process requirements.

Age Discrimination & ADEA

Protected age group, disparate treatment, disparate impact, and RIF (reduction in force) liability.

Retaliation Protection

Statutory retaliation protections, protected activity, adverse employment action, and causal connection.

Wage & Hour (FLSA)

Minimum wage, overtime requirements, independent contractor classification, and compensable time.

OSHA & Workplace Safety

Occupational safety standards, reporting requirements, whistleblower protection, and OSHA enforcement.

Landmark Cases for Briefing

McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973)

Topic: Disparate treatment framework | Rule: Three-step burden-shifting framework for Title VII disparate treatment claims (prima facie case, legitimate nondiscriminatory reason, pretext).

Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971)

Topic: Disparate impact liability | Rule: Facially neutral employment practices may violate Title VII if disproportionately impact protected class and not job-related.

Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17 (1993)

Topic: Hostile work environment | Rule: Harassment need not cause tangible job loss; conduct must be objectively hostile and subjectively perceived as such.

Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986)

Topic: Sexual harassment liability | Rule: Employer liable for supervisor harassment if fails to exercise reasonable care to prevent harassment.

Recommended Resources

Primary Statutes

Title VII (42 U.S.C. § 2000e), ADA (42 U.S.C. § 12101), ADEA (29 U.S.C. § 621), FLSA (29 U.S.C. § 201)

Study core provisions of major employment statutes and regulatory framework.

Casebook

Employment Law: Cases and Materials by Zimmer, Sullivan & White (9th ed. 2020)

Comprehensive coverage of employment law with strong policy emphasis.

Outline

Employment Law: Examples and Explanations by Covell (7th ed. 2022)

Clear explanations with worked examples. Strong on discrimination analysis and reasonable accommodations.

Practice Quizzes

Quiz 1: At-Will Employment & Common Law

At-will doctrine, exceptions, implied contracts. 8 questions.

Quiz 2: Title VII & Discrimination

Disparate treatment, disparate impact, sexual harassment, hostile environment. 12 questions.

Quiz 3: ADA, ADEA, FLSA & OSHA

Disability accommodations, age discrimination, wage/hour, workplace safety. 11 questions.