Roles and Functions of Law Paper
Cheryl Swallow
University of Phoenix In business, there are several different rules and regulations that apply to the various types of business based on the classifications. Depending on the work that one does, the laws that affect everyone apply in different forms to different businesses. The functions and the role of the law as it relates to business is unique and can be quite complicated. In defining and analyzing the roles of law as it pertains to one’s business or work industry, they will be able to fully understand the role of law and the ways in which it works and why. The definition of the law is a writing or practice that serves the purpose and function of maintaining society. This can be applied across any part of the law and demonstrates that different businesses have different laws that pertain to them and match itself with the functions of that business. There are several functions of business law too. Some of these functions include: protecting the rights of the parties involved, maintaining order, resolving disputes, creating standards, employer and employee relations, and even taxation. Every form of law can be used in different businesses based on the different types of needs that the business has. This is determined by looking at the type of business and the different industry that the company relates with. My personal company that I work for is the Jefferson County Public Health Department. Since I work for a type of government entity, there are even more rules of law that pertain to me as the employee and the employer as well. “The law is a guidepost for minimally acceptable behavior in society. Some activities, for instance, are crimes because society (through a legislative body) has determined that it will not tolerate certain behaviors that injure or damage persons or their property” (Businesslawbasics.com, 2015). An example of the ways that laws pertain to business is through my position as a van driver for the county health department. As a driver, I must adhere to all of the different rules and regulations that apply to the drivers on the road daily. The difference between myself and other drivers is that they are not at work and I am. Therefore, simple regulations like wearing a seatbelt and signaling before switching lanes apply to me as a driver and as a pedestrian. If I do not adhere to the driver safety laws, then I will compromise my position at work, my job as a whole, and my driving privileges for myself as a citizen. This example shows the ways that business laws can impact an employee from their perspective, but business law is there to protect and to create a guideline for businesses and society. So many thousands of laws exist to protect the different parties involved with the business that it relates to. The job that I work at now is the county health department and besides the driving laws there are so many other laws that contribute to protecting their consumers and the business. One example is the HIPPA privacy protection laws. These regulations protect the patients from having their information exposed to those who should not see their information. This set of laws protect the patient’s privacy and creates a guideline for the company so that they will not expose anything that is private. HIPPA laws shield the company from lawsuits because of leaked information whether accidentally or on purpose. The law is in place so that people can create a sense of security in their minds. This I one of the reasons that we have prisons, so that citizens will know and be secure in the fact that criminals will be locked away while law abiding citizens remain safe. The same applies to the rules of business law. Business law is in place in order to protect the business from harm and to create a sense of security for employers, investors, employees, and consumers too. Business law is unique because each of the parties involved in the business are understood and secured within the different laws that pertain to it. By doing this, the law is permitting itself to a unique protection that provides an assured security based on the functions that it relates to.
References
Businesslawbasics.com,. (2015). Chapter 3: Purposes and Functions of Law. Retrieved 8 August 2015, from http://www.businesslawbasics.com/chapter-3-purposes-and-functions-law-1
Hamel, G. (2015). What Is the Function of Law in Business?. Business & Entrepreneurship - azcentral.com. Retrieved 9 August 2015, from http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/function-law-business-1377.html