Generally speaking, there are three types of federal laws. First are the acts taken by Congress to legislate mandates. Congressional actions, when completed, become the “law of the land.” Second are the implementing regulations promulgated by the federal agencies and departments that specify in detail how the laws, passed by Congress, will be administered. Third are the court interpretations of those congressional actions and regulatory rules. When the U.S. Supreme Court, or an agency such as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), issues a ruling about how the laws should be applied and interpreted, the ruling becomes “case law.” It establishes precedent that must be followed by everyone within the court’s jurisdiction. This appendix lists cases that interpret important issues that have influence on human resource management and summarizes key case law decisions. We recommend that you review each case in its entirety by going to the link listed and searching by the citation title. HR professionals should have a working knowledge of these cases and their impact on the workplace. This information may appear on the certification exam in one way or another.

Chapter 4: People

Chapter 5: Organization

Chapter 6: Workplace

Chapter 7: Behavioral Competencies

There are no case laws that directly relate to these competencies.