Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 6 P52 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 498 MATERIAL because of race color religion sex or national origin. In addition an employer cannot fire an employee who is exercising certain rights such as filing a discrimination complaint with a governmental agency or filing for worker s compensation benefits. An employee can be discharged for misappropriating funds being unfaithful to his or her employer s interest refusing to perform services that were agreed upon in a contract or for being habitually late or absent. An employee cannot be fired for insubordination for refusing to subscribe to unlawful directives from his or her employer nor can the employee be required to perform such illegal tasks as committing perjury or handling stolen property. A suit for damages may be brought against an employer who wrongfully discharges an employee. An employee has the obligation to be honest and faithful in the performance of duties. When trade secrets are disclosed to an employee he or she must not reveal them to others either prior or subsequent to employment. In some cases an employment contract specifies that the employer owns any new ideas or inventions created by the employee during the period of employment. When this is true the employee has no rights in the idea or invention nor any right to ask for additional compensation. Compensation An employee can enter into an agreement to work without compensation but in the absence of such an agreement an employer must pay an employee at the agreed rate. The employer cannot delay payment of wages or substitute something other than money unless the employee assents. The employee is entitled to his or her wages as long as the work is completed. If an employer wrongfully discharges an employee the employee can collect all the money the employer had agreed to pay him or her. The amount and type of compensation is ordinarily regulated by agreement however it is affected by a number of statutes. Employers are required to pay at least a certain prescribed minimum wage under .
