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Honoring Ted Kennedy

Guest post by: Jennifer Loftus

Article Overview: On August 25, 2009, Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy passed away. Ted Kennedy, as the public called him, and his work had a great influence on the human resource practices of today. In this special issue of Astronology, we pay tribute to Ted Kennedy by examining 6 areas of influence he had on Human Resources. The Senate will not be the same without Ted Kennedy.

Honoring Ted Kennedy

On August 25, 2009, Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy passed away. Ted Kennedy, as the public called him, and his work had a great influence on the human resource practices of today. In this special issue of Astronology, we pay tribute to Ted Kennedy by examining 6 areas of influence he had on Human Resources. The Senate will not be the same without Ted Kennedy. 1. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 assists those with disabilities, guaranteeing them the same rights as others when applying for and keeping employment. The ADA, which takes its inspiration from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which makes race, religion, sex, color, and national origin discrimination illegal. The ADA was later expanded in 2008, becoming the American with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008 (or ADAAA). Ted Kennedy introduced the first ADA law and helped to advance it through Congress until George H. W. Bush signed it into law in 1990.

2. Occupational Health and Safety Act

According to Ted Kennedy's Timeline on his official website, he was a leader in passing the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The goal of this federal law is to regulate health and safety procedures for federal government and private sector businesses. Thanks to OHSA, employees have the protected right to work in an environment free of hazards, such as toxic chemicals, extreme noise levels, unhygienic circumstances, conditions with extreme heat and cold settings, and mechanical hazards.

3. Minimum Wage Increase/Welfare to Job Incentives

According to Senator Kennedy's timeline, in 1987 Senator Kennedy supported the minimum wage increase and Welfare to Job Incentives. Senator Kennedy's support for minimum wage increases touches the Fair Labor Standards Act, a key piece of HR legislation.

4. Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN) Act

In 1988 Kennedy supported the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN). This labor law protects families and communities by requiring businesses with 100 or more employees to provide at least 60 calendar days' notice of an organization's closing and / or mass layoffs. Under this law's protections, persons who should be notified include the following

• Union representatives

• Hourly wage and salaried employees

• Managers

• Supervisors

• Mayor (or other local chief official)

• State dislocated worker unit.

5. Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Signed by the Obama administration earlier this year, this new federal law establishes that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit for pay discrimination resets with each discriminatory paycheck issued. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was an answer to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in regards to the Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. lawsuit. This law gives a clearer definition to the issue, as the court had previously upheld that the 180-day statute began on the day the pay is agreed to.

6. Serve America Act (Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act)

Another newly enacted law signed by the Obama administration, the Serve America Act spreads the contingencies for service to Americans of every age. It also strengthens the non-profit sector. Service Corps created due to this law include the following:

• Veteran's Corp

• Education Corp

• Healthy Futures Corp

• Clean Energy Corp

• Opportunity Corp

This is but a brief walk down memory lane regarding Ted Kennedy's contributions to Human Resources. This tour makes us pause to wonder what the workplace would look like today had he not supported and introduced such laws. Instead of viewing Senator Kennedy's death as a tragedy, let's appreciate what his life's contributions have brought us. Working people everywhere have much to thank him for.

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Article Tags: ada law, american with disabilities, americans with disabilities, americans with disabilities act, astronology, disabilities act of 1990, extreme noise, health and safety act, health and safety procedures, hr legislation, human resource practices, mechanical hazards, minimum wage increase, minimum wage increases, national origin discrimination, occupational health and safety, occupational health and safety act, private sector businesses, senator kennedy, ted kennedy



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