Three Federal Laws Regulating Employers in the United States

Practicing in Berwyn, Illinois, Jerry Marzullo is a partner at Puchalski Goodloe Marzullo, LLP. A member of the American Bar Association, Jerry Marzullo of Berwyn is focused on employment and labor relations law.

There are numerous federal laws that ensure the fair treatment of employees in the United States. These three are among the most significant: 

- The Fair Labor Standards Act 

This act applies to organizations engaged in interstate commerce. The act establishes the minimum acceptable standards for minimum wage and overtime pay. It also restricts working hours for children below the age of 16 and prohibits the employment of minors (those younger than 18) in certain industries. 

- The Occupational Safety and Health Act 

This act established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency which is mandated to promulgate regulations ensuring the health and safety of workers in the workplace. The act also mandates employers to provide workers with work environments that are free from severe hazards.

- Employee Retirement Income Security Act

This act covers employers who provide pension or welfare benefit plans to employees. The act imposes fiduciary and disclosure duties with regard to pension and employee benefit plans. It also mandates the payment of insurance premiums by certain plan administrators to protect retirement benefits.

Examples of Unfair Labor Practices

Jerry Marzullo, an attorney in Berwyn, Illinois, represents clients as a partner at Puchalski Goodloe Marzullo, LLP, a Berwyn-based law firm. Working at the firm since 2012, Jerry Marzullo has handled a variety of cases, including unfair labor practices.

Here are a few examples of unfair labor practices, according to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA):

- Interfering with union activities. Employees have the right to form, organize, or join a labor organization, and employers cannot interfere with this. Further, the NLRA prohibits employers from discriminating against workers involved in union activities.

- Coercing employees to not support a union. The NLRA states that it is the employees' right to choose whether to support a union. Employers cannot force employees to not join a union by threatening them, nor can employers expel members for taking part in union activities.

- Dominating a trade union. According to the NLRA, the operation of a trade union with the intention of obstructing union activities is prohibited. This law applies to employers and bars them from establishing their own union to interfere with the union activities of their employees.

Benefit of Joining the Metropolitan Alliance of Police

A founding partner of Puchalski Goodloe Marzullo, LLP, in Berwyn, Illinois, Jerry Marzullo represents clients in the fields of public sector employment and labor law and public sector pension law. Alongside his work in Berwyn, Jerry Marzullo serves as deputy counsel for the Metropolitan Alliance of Police (MAP).

Established by Joe Andalina in 1983, MAP is a union that unites law enforcement professionals while standing up for their work-related rights. Members of the organization include police officers from numerous jurisdictions who work together for protection against unfair laws and labor practices and to promote common goals for themselves and the public sector.

Membership in MAP offers many benefits, including contractual labor-related support such as mediation, arbitration, and grievance resolution, and when necessary the organization will file unfair labor practices claims with the labor board on the member’s behalf. Additionally, members receive line-of-duty death and disability benefits, 24-hour access to attorneys, and a subscription to the Rap Sheet, the organization’s official newsletter.

The North Berwyn Park District's Before and After School Experience

Jerry Marzullo is a partner at the law firm of Puchalski Goodloe Marzullo, LLP. There, his responsibilities include litigating contract negotiations for public employee unions and unfair labor practices, as well as representing clients in related legal areas. Jerry Marzullo works and lives in the city of Berwyn, Illinois, which offers many programs to its residents, including the North Berwyn Park District’s Before and After School Experience (B.A.S.E.).

The B.A.S.E. program, open to students in Berwyn North School District 98, provides school children with recreational and educational activities both before and after school. The program also offers children a place to do their homework so more time at home can be spent with family. 

B.A.S.E. staff members are all trained in CPR, first aid, behavioral management, and customer service. The staff encourages students to participate in a range of activities including arts and crafts, themed games, and outdoor play. 

The program’s before-school experience starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 8:15 when children are transported to their respective schools. The before school experience costs $20 for five days. The after-school experience costs $50 for five days and runs from 3 to 6 p.m. on school days. Children enrolled in this program are picked up from school and taken to the Berwyn community center for a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities.