Employment Law, Fifth Edition

Employment Law, Fifth Edition (Aspen Casebook Series, 2023)

Employment Law, Fifth Edition, co-authored by Richard R. Carlson, Richard A. Bales, Michael C. Duff, and Dallan F. Flake, provides a comprehensive survey of the doctrines, statutes, and policies that shape the modern American workplace. Designed as a leading casebook for law school courses, it blends judicial decisions, statutory materials, and scholarly commentary with extensive notes and questions that encourage critical engagement with the law.

The book begins by defining the employment relationship and examining the pervasive doctrine of employment at will. It explores wrongful discharge, job security, and contractual limits on termination, while also addressing the rights and duties of supervision. Subsequent chapters cover antidiscrimination law under Title VII and related statutes, accommodations for personal and family needs through the Family and Medical Leave Act and disability law, and protections against retaliation and workplace harassment. Additional chapters examine employee privacy, the regulation of wages and hours under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the broad array of common law, constitutional, and statutory principles that govern workplace relations.

Distinctive features of the Fifth Edition include expanded treatment of gig economy work and the classification of independent contractors, discussion of Supreme Court decisions reshaping arbitration and employment rights, and coverage of recent developments in family leave, religious accommodation, and protections for LGBTQ+ employees. The text also includes contemporary examples of workplace disputes—ranging from grooming codes to no-fraternization policies—highlighting how employment law mediates the tension between managerial control and personal autonomy.

As part of the Aspen Casebook Series, Employment Law, Fifth Edition is designed with pedagogy in mind. It combines clear exposition with carefully curated cases and problems to help students master doctrine while developing practical lawyering skills. Equally valuable to practitioners and scholars, the book offers both a conceptual framework and practical insights for navigating employment disputes in today’s evolving labor market.