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Research in Labor & Employment Law

Prepared by Mary Whisner. Updated March 31, 2009

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Secondary Sources

Law Journals

Full-text searching is powerful, but can yield too much. Starting with an index often helps you focus your research.

 

Full-Text Databases

Both LexisNexis and Westlaw have databases with the full text of law journals, generally going back to the 1990s.

• LexisNexis: Legal > Secondary Legal > Law Reviews, CLE, Legal Journals & Periodicals, Combined. For non-law students, LexisNexis Academic has a similar collection of law journals.
• Westlaw: Journals and Law Reviews (JLR) or Texts and Periodicals (TP-ALL) (broader and more expensive)

Both systems also have databases that collect articles on labor and employment law:

• LexisNexis: Legal > Secondary Legal > Law Reviews & Journals > Law Reviews by Area of Law > Labor Law Review Articles, Combined
• Law Reviews, Texts & Bar Journals Combined (LB-TP)

Indexes

• Legal Resource Index / LegalTrac.
• Indexes more journals than are on either LexisNexis or Westlaw. Starts in 1980.
• Includes some full-text articles.
• Web version, LegalTrac, is available through the Library's website under Find Legal Databases.
• Westlaw: LRI
• LexisNexis: lawrev;lglind
 
• Current Index to Legal Periodicals, weekly.
  • Indexes journals when they arrive in the library: generally faster than they are loaded on LexisNexis or Westlaw.
  • Last 6 weeks available to UW users.
  • Westlaw: CILP. Latest 8 weeks.

Business, Economics, Etc.

For perspectives from other disciplines, try business and social science indexes through UW Libraries Subject Guides (e.g., EBSCO Business Source Complete, EconLit).

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Law Library Catalog

Begin with a keyword search or select a subject heading, such as:

• Employee rights
• Employees--Dismissal of
• Industrial hygiene
• Industrial safety
• Insurance, unemployment
• Labor contract
• Labor discipline
• Occupational diseases
• Wages
• Workers compensation

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Selected Texts (Federal or National)

Employment Law (general)

Multi-volume treatises

• N. Peter Lareau et al., Labor and Employment Law (KF3365 .K47 2003 at Reference Area)
  • LexisNexis: LABOR;LABEML
• Employment Law Coordinator -- (17 volumes in print, but the Law Library does not subscribe) -- covers " the areas of benefits, compensation, labor relations, personnel administration, and workplace safety."
  • Westlaw ELC database

One-volume treatises, Hornbooks, etc.

• Mark A. Rothstein et a., Employment Law (3d ed. 2005). Hornbook. KF3455.E468 2005 at Reference Area
• Robert N. Covington & Kurt H. Decker, Employment Law in a Nutshell (2d ed. 2002). KF3455.Z9C68 2002 at Reference Area
• Alfred G. Feliu, Primer on Individual Employee Rights (2d ed. 1996). KF3319.F45 1996 at Reference Area
• Mark W. Bennett et al., Employment Relationships: Law & Practice. A looseleaf treatise. KF3455.B456 1998 at Classified Stacks
• Jon W. Green & John W. Robinson IV, eds., Employment Litigation Handbook. KF3464.E46 1998 at Classified Stacks
• Mindy Farber, How to Build and Manage an Employment Law Practice (ABA, 1997). KF299.E44F37 1997 at Reference Area
• Marc Linder, The Employment Relationship in Anglo-American Law: A Historical Perspective (1989). K888.L56 1989 at Classified Stacks

Book aimed at nonlawyers

• Barbara Kate Repa, Your Rights in the Workplace (7th ed. 2007). KF3455.Z9R47 2007 at Reference Area

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject: Labor Laws and Legislation--United States.

Disability Law

• Henry H. Perritt, Americans with Disabilities Act Handbook (4th ed. 2003). KF3469.P47 2003 at Reference Area
• Petter Susser, Disability Discrimination and the Workplace. KF3469.Z95S87 2005 at Classified Stacks

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject: Discrimination Against People with Disabilities--Law and Legislation--United States.

Employment Discrimination

• Barbara Lindemann & Paul Grossman, Employment Discrimination Law (3d ed. 1996 & 2002 supp.). A project of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law and BNA. KF3464.S34 1996 at Reference Area
• Richard T. Seymour & John F. Aslin, Equal Employment Law Update. A project of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law and BNA. KF3464.A5E47 at Classified Stacks
• Lex K. Larson, Employment Discrimination. A ten volume looseleaf treatise. KF3464.L37 1994 at Reference Area
  • LexisNexis: LABOR;EMPDIS
• Harold S. Lewis, Jr. & Elizabeth J. Norman, Employment Discrimination Law and Practice (2d ed. 2004). A hornbook. KF3464.A7 L49 2004 at Reference Area
• Mack A. Player, Federal Law of Employment Discrimination in a Nutshell (5th ed. 2004). KF3464.Z9P55 2004 at Reference Area
• Nancy J. Sedmak, Primer on Equal Employment Opportunity (6th ed. 1994). KF3464.S43 1994 at Reference Area
• Joel Wm. Friedman, ed. Employment Discrimination Stories. KF3464.A7E49 2006 at Reference Area
• Employment Discrimination Coordinator (Westlaw EDC database) -- (8 volumes in print) -- covers "the areas of selection and hiring, affirmative action, discharge and discipline, union and employment agency practices, and administrative and court proceedings. EDC covers employment issues from the perspective of both state and federal law, as well as from the perspective of personnel administration." (The Law Library does not subscribe to the print product.)

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject:

• Discrimination in Employment--Law and Legislation--United States
• Discrimination in Employment--United States

Employee Benefits

• Steven J. Sacher et al., eds., Employee Benefits Law  (2d ed. 2000). KF3509.E58 2000 at Classified Stacks.
• Barbara J. Coleman, Primer on ERISA (4th ed. 1993). KF3512.Z9C6 1993 at Reference Area

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject: Employee Fringe Benefits--Law and Legislation--United States.

Labor Arbitration

• Frank Elkouri et al., How Arbitration Works (6th ed. 2003). A project of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment, Committee on ADR in Labor & Employment Law and Employment Law, ABA, and BNA. KF3424.E53 2003 at Reference Area
• Dennis R. Nolan, Labor and Employment Arbitration in a Nutshell. KF3425.N638 2007 at Reference Area

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject: Arbitration, Industrial--United States.

Labor Relations

• Robert A. Gorman & Matthew W. Finkin, Basic Text on Labor Law, Unionization, and Collective Bargaining (2d ed. 2004). KF3389 .G67 2004 at Reference Area.
• The Developing Labor Law: The Board, the Courts, and the National Labor Relations Act (John E. Higgins, Jr., ed., 5th ed. 2006) -- 2 volumes plus supplement. A project of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law and BNA. KF3369 .D48 2006 at Reference Area.
• Douglas E. Ray et al., Understanding Labor Law (2d ed. 2005). KF3319.R39 2005 at Reference Area
• Douglas L. Leslie, Labor Law in a Nutshell (5th ed. 2008). KF3369.3 .L39 2008 at Reference Area
• Laura J. Cooper & Catherine L. Fisk, eds., Labor Law Stories. KF3368.L34 2005 at Reference Area

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog

• by subject: Labor Laws and Legislation--United States
• by keyword: labor relations and united states

Occupational Safety

• Mark A. Rothstein, Occupational Safety and Health Law (2006 ed.). KF3570.R68 2006 at Reference Area
• Fred Blosser, Primer on Occupational Safety and Health (1992). KF3570.B54 1992 at Reference Area

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject: Industrial Safety--Law and Legislation--United States.

Sexual Harassment

• Barbara Lindemann & David D. Kadue, Sexual Harassment in Employment Law (1992). KF3467.L56 1992 at Reference Area
• William Petrocelli & Barbara Kate Repa, Sexual Harassment on the Job (4th ed. 1999). KF3467.Z9P47 1999 at Reference Area
• Barbara Lindemann, Primer on Sexual Harassment (1992). KF3467.L55 1992 at Reference Area

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject: Sexual Harassment of Women--Law and Legislation--United States.

Termination

• Adolph M. Koven, Susan L. Smith & Donald F. Farwell, Just Cause: The Seven Tests (3d ed. 2006). KF3540.K68 2006 at Classified Stacks
• William J. Holloway & Michael J. Leech, Employment Termination: Rights and Remedies (2d ed. 1993). KF3471.H64 1993 at Classified Stacks.
• Daniel P. Westman, Whistleblowing: The Law of Retaliatory Discharge (2d ed. 2004). KF3471.W47 2004 at Classified Stacks

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject: Employees, Dismissal of--Law and Legislation--United States.

Wages and Hours

• Ellen C. Kearns, ed., The Fair Labor Standards Act. KF3484.528.F35 1999 at Reference Area
• Michael J. Ossip & Robert M. Hale, eds., The Family and Medical Leave Act. KF3531.A319F36 2006 at Classified Stacks

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject:

• Hours of Labor--Law and Legislation--United States
• Wages--Law and Legislation--United States

Workers' Compensation

• Jack B. Hood, Benjamin A. Hardy & Harold S. Lewis, Workers' Compensation and Employee Protection Laws in a Nutshell (4th ed. 2005). KF3615.Z9H64 2005 at Reference Area
• Arthur Larson, The Law of Workmen’s Compensation. A looseleaf treatise. KF3613.4.L3 at Classified Stacks
  • LexisNexis: LABOR;LARWCL

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by subject:

• Workers' Compensation--Law and Legislation--United States
• Workers' Compensation--United States

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Washington State Materials

Deskbooks & Guides

• Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Labor and Employment Practice Group, Employment Law Handbook: A Practical Guide for Washington State Employers. KF3320.Z99 E46 2003 at Classified Stacks
• Michael J. Killeen, Employment in Washington: A Guide to Employment Laws, Regulations, and Practices (4th ed. 1998). KFW331.Z9L38 1998 at Reference Area
  • LexisNexis: LABOR;WAEMP
• Stephen D. Phillabaum, Employee/Employer Rights: The Complete Guide for the Washington Work Force (2d ed. 1992). KFW331.Z9P454 1992 at Reference Area
• Judith A. Lonnquist, ed., Washington Employment Law Deskbook. KFW331.W372 2004 at Reference Area

For additional titles, search the Law Library catalog by keywords: (labor or employment) and washington state.

Administrative Decisions (selected)

• Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, Significant Decisions [microform]. KFW539 .W6B63 1987 at Reference Area. Westlaw has Washington workers' compensation decisions from 1985: WAWC-ADMIN database. Available at the agency website.
• Employment Security Department, Digest of Commissioner's Decisions. KFW345.A57W34 at Reference Area. Selected precedential decisions of the Commissioner are at the agency website.
• Higher Education Personnel Board, Appeals Summary. KFW332.8.U5W37 at Reference Area..
• Public Employment Relations Commission on Westlaw: WALB-ADMIN, from 1976.

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Statistics

Monthly Labor Review. HD8051.A78 at Compact Stacks

• Available on the agency website from 1989 to date. Includes Current Labor Statistics information on a separate page.
• LexisNexis: MLABOR file in either LABOR or EMPLOY library
• Westlaw: MNTHLABREV
• Note: The LexisNexis and Westlaw versions do not include tables and graphs.

Statistical Abstract of the United States, annual. HA202 at Reference Office. Available at the agency website.

Handbook of U.S. Labor Statistics: Employment, Earnings, Prices, Productivity, and Other Labor Data. HD5724.H36 2001 at Classified Stacks

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (statistical information, fact sheets, and more)

Washington State Employment Security, Labor Market and Analysis Branch, Labor Market Information

Occupational Employment Statistics. Westlaw: OES, 1998-2000

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Looseleaf Services & Web Products

BNA

BNA web product: 10 email newletters (daily or weekly) with new developments. Also a comprehensive, searchable online library based on the Labor Relations Reporter (Labor and Employment Law Library).

Guides:

• Labor & Employment Law Library Product Tour
• Labor & Employment Law Library Quick Reference Card

Labor Relations Reporter. KF3365.B8 at Reference Area. Click here for example using Labor Relations Reporter in print.

Component binders include:

• Master Index (2 binders)
• Labor Relations Expediter (2 binders)
• Vol. 1:  Analysis/News & Background Information
• Vol. 2:  Labor Management Relations: Decisions of Boards and Courts
• Vol. 3:  Labor Arbitration and Dispute Settlements
• Vol. 4-4A:  State Laws
• Vol. 5:  Wages & Hours Cases
• Vol. 6-6A:  Wages and Hours Manual
• Vol. 7:  Fair Employment Practices Cases
• Vol. 8-8B:  Fair Employment Practices Manual
• Vol. 9:  Individual Employment Rights Cases
• Vol. 9A:  Individual Employment Rights Manual
• Vol. 10:  Americans with Disabilities Cases

Related bound sets:

• Americans with Disabilities Cases. KF3464.A5B89 at Reference Area
• Fair Employment Practice Cases. KF3464.A5B87 at Reference Area & Compact Stacks
• Individual Employment Rights Cases. KF3457.A5B8 at Reference Area & Compact Stacks
• Labor Arbitration Reports. KF3421.B8 at Reference Area
• Labor Relations Reference Manual. KF3365.B82 at Reference Area & Compact Stacks
• Wage and Hour Cases. KF3485.A2B8 at Reference Area

CCH

CCH Internet Research Network (contact reference librarian for the password)

Labor Law Reporter. KF3365.C6 at Reference Area. Component binders include:

• Federal Wage-Hour (2 vols.)
• Federal Labor Relations (5 vols.)
• State Laws (3 vols.)
• Topical Index
• Quick Finder

Labor Arbitration Awards. KF3421.A2C62 at Reference Area. 1934-41 at Classified Stacks

Employment Practices Guide. KF3463.Z9C64 at Reference Area

Related bound sets:

• Employment Practices Decisions. KF3464.A5C6E at Reference Area
• Labor Arbitration Awards. KF3421.A2C6 at Reference Area
• Labor Cases. KF3310.A2 at Reference Area
• CCH NLRB Decisions. KF3372.A56C6 at Reference Area
• CCH EEOC Decisions (1973). KF3464.A56.C65 at Reference Area

Employment-at-Will Reporter (1983-2000). KF3471.A15E46 at Classified Stacks

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Agency Manuals

• EEOC Compliance Manual (reprinted by BNA). KF3464.A6 U55 1975 at Reference Area
  • LexisNexis: LABOR;EEOMAN
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Technical Assistance Program: Resource Manual: Laws, Regulations and Relevant Policy Statements. KF3464.15.A7E73 1993 at Reference Area
• Americans with Disabilities Act Technical Assistance Manuals (various titles). KF3464.A73D57 1998, KF3469.A6T33 1992, KF3469.A6T332 1992, KF3469.A6T333 1992 at Classified Stacks
  • Westlaw: ADA-TAM
• National Labor Relations Board, Casehandling Manual.  A 3-volume looseleaf. Currently parts 1 and 2 are from 1989; part 3 is 1993. KF3372 .A85 at Classified Stacks
  • LexisNexis: LABOR;NLRBCM

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Websites

See links to agency websites, primary law, and professional organizations from Georgetown Law Library's guide here.

The Employment Law Information Network is an employment law portal containing links to federal and state employment laws, selected federal and state cases, articles, a discussion forum, and human resources policies, forms, and contracts.

You can find lists of employment law blogs at the Justia and ABA Journal websites.

Washington State Employment Law Blogs:

Employee Handbooks ("an ongoing discussion of the critical importance of having, and effectively using, employee handbooks and workplace policies," by D. Jill Pugh, a solo practitioner in Seattle)

Employment Advisory ("employment law observations for employers and employees in Washington State" by Rod Stephens, a solo practitioner in Sumner)

Employment Law Blog ("a general discussion of the laws affecting the workplace from both the perspective of the small business owner and that of the individual employee," by D. Jill Pugh, a solo practitioner in Seattle)

ERISA on the Web (ERISA and disability law benefits, by the Wood Law Firm)

Washington Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits Blog ("current events in labor, employment, and employee benefits law in Seattle, Washington, and across the United States," by Donald W. Heyrich, a solo practitioner in Seattle)

Workers Compensation (information about Washington workers compensation and Social Security disability claims, from the Tacoma firm of Welch & Condon).