Chapter
5
5.1
Work-Related Forms and Laws
5.2
Responsibilities on the Job
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning

Lesson 5.1
GOALS
 Discuss the purpose of various workrelated forms.
 Explain the provisions of major employment laws.
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 When you get a job, the government will require a number of forms containing information about you.
 You will fill out some.
 Others, your employer will complete.
 If you are under age 16, you may also need a work permit.
 Some forms, such as Forms W-2 and W-4, are part of the income tax process.
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 Form W-4 asks for your name, address, Social
Security number, marital status, and the number of exemptions you are claiming for income tax purposes.
 The information determines the amount your employer will withhold from your paycheck for income taxes.
 Allowances are reductions in the amount of tax withheld from your paycheck.
 Exempt status is available only to people who will not earn enough in the year to owe any federal income tax.
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 Employers withhold Social Security taxes from your pay and contribute matching amounts.
 The amounts you earn and the amounts contributed for Social Security throughout your work life are credited to your Social Security account number.
 When you become eligible, usually at retirement, benefits are paid to you monthly, based upon how much you have paid into your account.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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 Social Security Number
 Your Social Security number is your permanent work identification number.
 Social Security Card
 Application for a card
 Application for a replacement card
 Social Security Statement of Earnings
 Request for Social Security Statement of
Earnings
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 Many states require minors —people under the age of legal adulthood —to obtain a work permit before they are allowed to work.
 Where to get a work permit application:
 Your state Department of Labor
 School counseling center
 Work experience coordinator
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(continued)
 What you need in order to apply for a work permit:
 Social Security number
 Proof of age
 Permission from your parent or legal guardian
 There is usually no charge.
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 Form W-2 is a summary of the income you earned during the year and all amounts the employer withheld for taxes.
 Each of your employers must provide you with a Form W-2 for the previous tax year no later than January 31 of the current year.
 Each of your employers sends a copy of your Form W-2 to the government.
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 Before you start working, you and your employer must complete an Employment
Eligibility Verification form, or Form I-9.
 The purpose of this form is to verify the employee’s identity and eligibility to work in the
United States.
 Along with the form, you will be required to present forms of identification, which could include a driver’s license, passport, Social
Security card, or birth certificate.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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 The federal government has enacted many laws to protect workers.
 The Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing labor laws that:
 Provide unemployment, disability, and retirement insurance benefits
 Establish a minimum wage and regular working hours
 Establish rules regarding overtime pay
 Help workers injured on the job
 Provide equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination
 Establish safe working conditions
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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 The Social Security Act, passed in 1935, established a national social insurance program that provides federal aid for the elderly and for disabled workers.
 The Medicare provision, added in 1965, provides hospital and medical insurance for those 65 and older.
 Social Security provides these benefits:
 Old age retirement income (OA)
 Survivorship income (S)
 Disability income (D)
 Health insurance (HI)
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 The Social Security Act requires every state to have an unemployment insurance program.
 Unemployment insurance provides benefits to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
 After a waiting period, laid-off or terminated workers may collect a portion of their regular pay for a certain length of time.
 Premiums for unemployment insurance are usually paid by employers.
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 The Fair Labor Standards Act, which is also known as the Wage and Hour Act, establishes a minimum wage.
 It also requires hourly workers to be paid
“overtime wages” of 1½ times their hourly rate for hours worked beyond 40 per week.
 A minimum wage is the lowest wage that an employer may pay an employee as established by law.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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 Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that pays benefits to workers and/or their families for injury, illness, or death that occurs as a result of the job.
 The employer is responsible for employee injuries and illnesses that are the result of employment, regardless of fault.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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 The Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA) of 1993 allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12month period for certain medical and family situations.
 Some employers may choose to pay employees during some types of leave, such as sick leave, but they are not required by law to do so.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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(continued)
 Valid circumstances for unpaid leave under the
FMLA include the following:
 Birth and care of a newborn child, including adoption of a child
 Care of an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition
 Medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition
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 Equal Pay Act
 Civil Rights Act of 1964
 Age Discrimination in Employment Act
 Americans with Disabilities Act
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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Lesson 5.2
GOALS
 Discuss employee responsibilities at work.
 Describe employer responsibilities to employees.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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 Competent work
 The work needs to be marketable —that is, of such quality that the employer can sell it or use it to favorably represent the company.
 Punctuality
 Punctuality means being ready to start work at the appointed time.
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(continued)
 Pleasant attitude
 Pleasant and easy to get along with
 Courteous to customers
 Loyalty and respect
 Loyalty means that you show respect for your employer and the company for which you work, both on and off the job.
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(continued)
 Dependability
 Dependability is a character trait that means you can be counted on to do what you say you will do.
 Initiative
 Initiative is taking the lead, recognizing what needs to be done, and doing it without having to be told.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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(continued)
 Interest
 You should project an attitude of wanting to learn all you can and of giving all tasks your best effort.
 Self-evaluation
 The ability to take criticism and to assess your own progress is important to you and your employer.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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 Teamwork
 Teamwork means working cooperatively in order to achieve a group goal.
 Thoughtfulness
 Be considerate of coworkers to promote a good work atmosphere for everyone, including customers.
 Loyalty
 In addition to being loyal to your employer, you should be loyal to coworkers.
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 Helpfulness
 Identify what customer wants
 Solve problems
 Courtesy and respect
 Your attitude toward customers should always be respectful and courteous, never hostile or unfriendly.
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 Adequate supervision
 Supervision is providing new and current employees with the information and training they need to do their jobs well.
 Fair human resource policies
 Policies on hiring, firing, raises, promotions, and dispute resolution need to be fair and well defined.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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(continued)
 Safe working conditions
 Safe equipment
 Safe working environment
 Adequate training for working under dangerous conditions
 Open channels of communication
 Express concerns.
 Ask questions.
 Make suggestions.
© 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning
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(continued)
 Recognition of achievement
 An employee evaluation is a report that discusses the employee’s strengths and weaknesses in performing the job and how well the employee helped to meet company goals.
 As a result of evaluations, employees are given merit pay raises, bonuses, and advancement opportunities.
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