Small businesses and large corporations alike must ensure that their hiring and management policies comply with North Carolina labor and employment law. Human resource professionals are not only required to know how to apply these laws in their daily work, they must also know the sources of these laws.

NC employment laws are easy to find government websites. You can also find accompanying insightful analyses on websites maintained by leading North Carolina labor law attorneys and on blogs where those attorneys exchange their experiences in seeking to apply the statutory principles to everyday workplace situations. Your North Carolina labor and employment law education and training program can follow a few short steps:

1. Find online sources of North Carolina employment law that offer key commentaries from noted professionals.

2. Go straight to the official sources of NC labor laws when you access convenient government websites.

3. Learn how attorneys are interpreting NC employee laws in cases brought by their clients.

Action Steps
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Use online sources to read about North Carolina labor laws

A training program based upon labor laws must educate your staff about how those laws are applied in real life cases. Find out what NC work laws say about the state's policy of 'at will' employment. Learn which employees may have protection by collective bargaining agreements and whether employees have solid grounds to file a discrimination complaint.

I recommend: FindLaw.com presents an insightful discussion of wrongful discharge claims. Edgerton Immigration Law explains the problems employers face in responding to "no match" letters from the Social Security Administration. Search the archives of the General Assembly of North Carolina for recent changes to employment laws.

Educate yourself using official sources for the labor laws of North Carolina

An educational program that overlooks the statutes on which labor laws are based cannot provide a sound foundation for understanding those laws. Several state department offices maintain websites providing ready access to the relevant employment law statutes.

I recommend: The North Carolina Department of Labor website identifies key issues that the legal affairs division handles. Peruse retirement benefits handbooks available online at the North Carolina Department of the Treasury website. Learn how the North Carolina Industrial Commission interprets the workers' compensation act.

Attend seminars and training events on North Carolina labor laws

Seminars and training forums provide a distinctive educational opportunity for your human resource staff because they provide the chance to build lasting relationships with legal professionals. Seminars also allow your staff to hear from different viewpoints and to learn about current research in the area of North Carolina employment law.

I recommend: Search for training events and seminars dedicated to advanced issues in North Carolina employment law on Find A Seminar.com. The Nexsen Pruet law firm has seminars that educate on immigration law for employers and unemployment benefits. Check its website regularly for upcoming events regarding specific labor law topics. McAngus Goudelock & Courie host seminars on the most current employment law topics, such as immigration law compliance and sexual harassment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A comprehensive North Carolina labor and employment law education and training program for human resource managers should aim to supply managers with enough information so that they are able to draft legally compliant employee handbooks.

North Carolina state labor laws help employers protect their businesses through compliance with safety standards, fair hiring practices and work environment. North Carolina state labor laws help both employers and employees have better working relationships in a more productive environment.

North Carolina labor and employment law makes working better for everyone. Labor law, although originally intended to improve working conditions for laborers, boosts business owner’s bottom line by increased productivity.

North Carolina labor laws deal with job safety, employee foreman ratios, break time, lunch time and safety standards within the work environment. Updated North Carolina labor laws meet the demand of new technology and constantly changing work requirements. Understand and comply with NC labor laws to:

1. Stay in compliance with changes to NC employment laws.

2. Provide productive work environments for employees through NC employment laws.

3. Protect your businesses from frivolous lawsuits.

4. Keep productivity high.

Action Steps
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Display NC employment law posters in easy to read locations around your facility

Keeping employees informed of their rights and responsibilities under employment law in North Carolina keeps them empowered. North Carolina labor law posters provide the latest updates or changes in labor law in North Carolina.

I recommend: GovDocs and LaborLawCenter carry up to date government recommended NC employment law posters for display around your facility.

Protect yourself and your employees by keeping up to date on NC labor laws

The only way to guard your company from frivolous lawsuits and keep employees happy is to promote a safe work environment and understand your rights as an employer. Keeping up to date on changes to current laws and how the effect your particular company is vital to a healthy work environment.

I recommend: Visit the legal affairs division page of the North Carolina Department of Labor to understand worker's rights. Also stay up to date on the latest news from the North Carolina Department of Labor from their communications division.

Increase productivity by going above and beyond required state labor laws in NC

North Carolina employment law, as in any state, give guidelines and requirements for what the state considers a safe working environment. Going above the minimum requirements to keep employees happy is a great way to increase their overall productivity.

I recommend: Visit the US Department of Labor for state by state links to labor issues and policies . HRhero.com is a subscription service offering the latest updates to state by state employment law.

Find NC labor lawyers from North Carolina employment laws firms

Employment law attorneys from North Carolina employment law firms help clients understand NC employment law. Labor lawyers in North Carolina from North Carolina employment law firms keep clients informed and in compliance with the latest changes and updates to NC employment law.

I recommend: Van Hoy, Reutlinger, Adams & Dunn of Charlotte, NC, specialize in all aspects of employment and labor law in NC. Ogletree Deakins of Raleigh is one of Americas three largest employment law firms and has North Carolina labor law attorneys to meet any business needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Discuss changes to NC work laws with your union representative. If you are a non union business, be sure someone in your Human Resources department is in charge of all employment law related issues.
• •  Post NC state labor law posters anywhere employees tend to congregate or spend time on breaks. Conference rooms, break rooms, lunch rooms and near time clocks are all great places to for labor law posters.

Attorneys must stay current on North Carolina labor and employment law news and trends. This area of law can be affected by legislation and court rulings involving North Carolina labor and employment law. North Carolina has a variety of procedures and forms for dealing with matters of labor and employment law. Attorneys who practice labor and employment law also may wish to remain informed on what the general public thinks about changes in North Carolina labor and employment law.

Information on news and trends for NC labor laws may be grouped according to source, such as the following three categories:

1. Independent news sources on North Carolina labor laws. These sources include blogs, magazines and newspapers, and generally do not rely on any particular lobby group or business. They may contain hard news, as well as varied opinions, on labor and employment law.
2. State websites. These sites are the best source of official news and trends on North Carolina labor law, such as current procedures or rulings.
3. Labor and employment law attorneys. Legal professionals may be able to provide inside news and other information on labor and employment law that is not readily available elsewhere.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Study independent sources of news and trends on NC employer laws

News organizations frequently report on legislative updates on North Carolina labor and employment law. Individuals also may keep blogs and journals on labor law in North Carolina.

I recommend: The National Right to Work Committee provides current news and labor law legislation in North Carolina. The Charlotte Observer has a detailed article on employees' rights in North Carolina.

Review state websites to get official news and other information on NC employee laws

North Carolina government websites are the best places to get the latest news about North Carolina labor and employment law. A North Carolina website also may publish the state statutes to help attorneys stay informed on the latest legislation that relates to North Carolina labor and employment law.

I recommend: The North Carolina Department of Labor provides news bulletins about labor law in North Carolina. The Social Services Department for Catawba County provides its current guidelines for complying with North Carolina labor laws regarding teens.

Get inside news on labor law from NC labor lawyers

North Carolina employment law firms frequently have information on North Carolina law that is not available elsewhere. These attorneys may publish newsletters or full length articles on a particular aspect of labor and employment law in North Carolina.

I recommend: Wimberly Lawson provides news alerts in matters of North Carolina employment law, such as COBRA updates. Nelson Mullins specializes in North Carolina labor law and offers an overview of the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Labor laws of North Carolina also include protection for older workers, and the trend in these laws over time has been to protect older workers. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 prohibits employment discrimination against employees 40 years of age or older. The ADEA was amended in 1986 and again in 1991 by the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act.