Employment and Labor Relations Law Glossary Terms

(FDCPA), is a law within the Consumer Credit Protection Act, related to protecting consumers from debt collection abuse or mistaken debt information. The act provides rules that collection agents must follow when attempting to collect a debt and gives consumers rights related to the collection of debts.

(FMLA) is a federal law that allows eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave with continued medical benefits and restoration of their original position when they return. Employers and employees both have specific rights and responsibilities during an FMLA-qualifying leave. Because FMLA leave can be a life-changing event with long-term ramifications for your career, you may wish to consult with a labor and employment attorney before beginning a leave to understand your rights and responsibilities. Employers who must offer FMLA are all federal, state, and local governments and agencies (including public and private schools) and private employers with 50 or more employees for 20 weeks per calendar year. Employees are eligible if they have worked for the same employer for the previous 12 months and have worked at least 1,250 hours during that time. Leave is granted to employees who can provide medical documentation to support that the leave is needed due to the birth or adoption of a child, the employee’s serious health condition, or the serious health condition of the employee’s immediate family members. The term “serious health condition” is often misunderstood, and you should consult your employee handbook or talk to your Human Resources representative if you are unsure whether you qualify for the protection of the FMLA when needing a leave.

An agency of the United States government whose mission is to promote the protection of consumers against deceptive or unfair business practices and to stop or prevent anti-competitive business practices.