It’s quite easy to feel as if you’re always in danger of walking into a trap. Like you need to constantly be on guard against people looking to take advantage of you. This is true now more than ever, as powerful businesses across the country flex their might – often at the expense of everyday people.
This problematic behavior by corporations can be seen most clearly in two aspects of society: The sale of dangerous products and the regular ignoration of employee rights.
Unsafe products put consumers in harm’s way
Product recalls seem to come every day. Toys, food, cosmetics, vehicles, electronics, appliances, furniture, sports equipment – the list goes on. Statistics show the number of recalls issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have been falling in recent years. As the Washington Post explains, this does not tell the whole story.
Importantly, the commission can only issue a recall if the company agrees to such a move. This does not always happen, and unless the CPSC opts to file a lawsuit (which is rare), it has little recourse. In addition, pure recall figures do not reflect the actual danger level of each recall. Some of the defects in these products are, fortunately, minor. Others, however, lead to serious injuries and even fatalities.
This means consumers do not know whether they can trust companies to provide safe products. Instead, they must shoulder the burden of policing every single item they might buy.
Employees are being taken advantage of
Federal and state laws provide very specific protections for America’s workers. They ensure nobody is discriminated against on the basis of a protected attribute, such as their age, religion or race. And they provide wronged employees an avenue to hold their employer accountable.
Yet these violations occur all the time. In fiscal year 2019, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received more than 72,000 charges of workplace discrimination. The most common allegation? That a company retaliated against an employee after that individual tried to exercise their anti-discrimination rights.
The law is about protecting people
What emerges here is a clear pattern: Businesses often put themselves over the welfare of individuals. This can take the form of dangerous products on store shelves or ignored employee rights. The law is all about protecting these people.
When you suffer harm because of a company’s irresponsible, neglectful actions, you can hold them responsible. Whether through a consumer fraud or discrimination-related lawsuit, securing rightful compensation while ensuring nobody else suffers in the same way may be possible.
