At-A-Glance: Mandated Benefits

1. Virtually everyone who is employed or self-employed is covered by Social Security and Medicare.
2. Unemployment compensation provides for a continuation of income for unemployed workers and their families.
3. Sick leave pay generally provides employees with full pay for occasional unplanned absences caused by non-work related personal illness or injury.
4. Disability insurance is insurance that provides for the payment of amounts in place of a person’s salary when physical or mental disabilities prevent the person from performing gainful employment.
5. Generally, employers are obligated by USERRA—and, in most cases, state law, as well—to grant military leave to employees serving in the National Guard and reserves and to reinstate such employees returning from service in the armed forces.
6. The FMLA requires employers with fifty or more employees to provide up to twelve weeks of leave a year to qualified employees.
7. Employers must make provisions for religious observance by workers; but not to make an accommodation that would cause the company “undue hardship.”
8. Most employers allow work-time off to perform jury duty, often without requiring them to forgo pay.