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When certain employees are terminated from their jobs, they may be offered a severance agreement when they leave. While this may seem unimportant, it can be critical to ensure a lawyer looking over these agreements before you sign them, whether you are an employer or an employee. But why exactly do you need a lawyer to help you negotiate your severance agreement?
Continue reading “Why Hire a Lawyer to Negotiate Your Severance Agreement?”
In a recent ruling by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, they refused to accept an attempt by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) to prevent college athletes from being considered employees protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). While this ruling does not say that college athletes are considered employees, it also failed to say they certainly were not. This is important as it leaves open the door for college athletes to potentially gain employment protections in the future.
Continue reading “Third Circuit Rules Against NCAA in College Athletes Case”
Congratulations! If you’re reading this blog, chances are you have found out that you are pregnant. Or, maybe you are the partner of someone who is pregnant. Being pregnant and expecting a child is one of life’s greatest blessings. However, becoming pregnant may also create worries about job security, plans for work, benefits, and other items. For many working women, becoming pregnant can come as a surprise. While life’s greatest blessing may come at an unexpected time in one’s life, you must know what you can do to prepare to leave a job. Here is a checklist as to what you should do when you find out you’re expecting: Continue reading ““I’m Pregnant! What do I do about work?””
Countless times clients have come to me dissatisfied and unhappy with their current jobs. They feel that the grass is greener on the other side. They may even be experiencing perceived problems at the office and can’t take it anymore. However, the best thing one can do when their inner voice is telling them to quit is NOT TO QUIT. Continue reading “Rethink Resigning”
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a new rule requiring labor unions to disclose more information about how union-controlled trusts allocate their money. The new rule, titled “Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports for Trusts in Which a Labor Organization Is Interested,” will affect any union with annual revenues exceeding $250,000, and will require in-depth disclosure of the trust’s expenses and investments. The goal of the new rule, according to the DOL, is to meet the requirements of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. Continue reading “New DOL Rule Requires Greater Financial Disclosure from Unions”
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has agreed to settle a lawsuit against Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., which alleged Hitachi discriminated against an employee. Hitachi has agreed to pay $85,000 in compensation along with other relief to settle the suit, which claimed that Hitachi failed to adequately accommodate the employee’s disability, and illegally rescinded an offer of permanent employment. The suit shows the EEOC is serious about enforcing anti-discrimination law and will come down hard on employers who refuse to accommodate disabled employees. Continue reading “EEOC Settles Disability Discrimination Claim Against Hitachi”
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a medical condition related to the working environment surrounding a specific job is not considered a substantial impairment on the employee’s ability to work. The case was brought by an employee who claimed he suffered discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) after he was fired due to poor job performance. The court agreed with the defendant that the inability to perform a single, specific job is not the same as having a substantial impairment on the ability to work entirely. Continue reading “Inability to Do Specific Job Not Substantial Impairment Under ADA”
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a hotel in Jefferson City, MO for permitting a male room inspector to allegedly harass a female housekeeper. The suit alleges the inspector repeatedly made offensive sexual comments towards the housekeeper, and continuously made unwanted physical contact with her. The suit was brought because the owners of the hotel were apparently aware of the conduct but made no efforts to stop it. Continue reading “EEOC Sues Jefferson City Hotel for Sexual Harassment”
An increasingly common, but controversial, aspect of employment contracts is known as the mandatory arbitration clause (also known as a forced arbitration clause). These aspects of employment law are poorly understood outside of legal circles. But what exactly is a mandatory arbitration clause and what makes it so controversial? Continue reading “What is a Mandatory Arbitration Clause?”
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is dedicated to protecting workers from unsafe conditions on the job. However, despite OSHA’s rules, many employers get caught every year with unsafe conditions on their job sites. Here are some of the most common OSHA violations found in workplaces across the United States: Continue reading “Five Common OSHA Violations”
