Mishpetei Uzziel vol. 4 Hoshen Mishpat 42 (Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Chai Uzziel) - A

What are the precise definitions of establishing a reciprocal relationship between workers and employers? Answer: I have not found an explicit answer to this in the words of the early rabbis, but we can learn this regardless from their words, in the expositions of the verse “When one of your kin sells himself/herself to you—whether a man or a woman—s/he should work for you for six years and should go free on the seventh year. ” (Deuteronomy 15:12) that say that you should behave toward him/her with fellowship. How is this? You should act with fellowship toward this person, and this person should act in the same way in his/her work. (Sifra, Leviticus Behar 5:7) From this, we learn one clear definition of the reciprocal relationship between workers and employers. Employers are obligated to behave toward workers with love and honor, and with goodwill and generosity. And the worker, on his/her part, acts faithfully and gives him/herself fully to the work that s/he was hired to do. [Translation by Rabbi Jill Jacobs]