Employment contracts basically outline both your and your employer's legal rights and responsibilities in an employment relationship. Some employment contracts can be lengthy, complicated documents detailing job duties, salary information, stock options, and employee benefits.

Federal and state anti-discrimination laws clearly mandate that all employment decisions and practices can't be based on discriminatory criteria such as race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disability.

Child labor laws under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act were enacted to protect the educational opportunities of minors and to prohibit their employment in jobs characterized by conditions that may be detrimental to their health or well-being.

Under The Fair Labor Standard Act, also known as FLSA (F-L-S-A), Congress is given the power to establish the minimum hourly wage employers must pay its employees.

If you're covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act, you're entitled to receive overtime compensation when you work more than 40 hours in a given workweek.

When the length of your employment and the reasons in which you may be terminated are specified in your employment contract with an employer, these terms will generally govern when and how you can be terminated.