When employees experience discrimination and/or harassment, they have the right to report such activity either to their employer or to an outside body (i.e. the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Additionally, they also have legal protections against employer retaliation. Retaliation happens when an employer punishes or otherwise takes a negative action against an employee for ...
Since many states have legalized medical and recreational marijuana in recent years, many employees wonder if they are protected from getting fired for consuming cannabis. Although employers have every right to terminate an employee if he/she is under the influence of pot while performing job duties, what about off-duty use? Thirty-three states and Washington D.C. have legalized medical marijuana. ...
Losing a job can be a serious blow, especially if the termination is unexpected or unwarranted. Employers are responsible for respecting the rights of their employees, especially as those rights apply to job termination. Under no circumstances should an individual lose their job because of who they are or what they believe. Beyond that, there are also several other reasons an employer should not ...
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted by Congress in 1993. This law enables specific workers to have 12 workweeks of unpaid leave each year without fear of getting fired. Local, state, and federal government and public agencies are required to comply with this law. In addition, private employers with at least 50 employees—within a 75-mile radius—for a minimum of 20 workweeks per year ...
Paid time off (PTO), also known as personal time off, gives employees an opportunity to take days off while still earning their pay. Although most employees save their PTO days for long vacations, there are many who accrued more PTO than they use, resulting in a surplus. If you have accrued a surplus amount of PTO and plan on leaving your job, you might be wondering if your employer must payout ...
When employees experience discrimination and/or harassment, they have the right to report such activity either to their employer or to an outside body (i.e. the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Additionally, they also have legal protections against employer retaliation. Retaliation happens when an employer punishes or otherwise takes a negative action against an employee for ...
A change to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is set to take effect December 1 st , 2016 which will make an estimated 4.2 million additional salaried American workers eligible to earn overtime pay. The new rule will increase the federal minimum salary level for overtime pay for FLSA-covered workers to $913 per week, or $47,476 per year. While many companies have already commenced preparations ...
The Houston Chronicle discusses the need for updates on sexual-harassment laws following the spark of the #MeToo movement. Read more below to learn how our very own, Todd Slobin is taking a proactive stance on changing Texas politics. Houston Chronicle Article - #MeToo movement needs to regain momentum
Attorney Sidd Rao spoke with Fox 26 about the news that Walmart plans to eliminate the door greeter role in stores around the nation. "They're giving the sense that these people are no longer useful to the company apparently and they're being potentially discarded," said Rao. "And in terms of this having a disproportionate impact on a protected group of workers like older workers and disabled ...
Our attorneys at Shellist Lazarz Slobin LLP help workers throughout the country recover the wages they are entitled to. We know that you work hard for the money you earn, and you deserve to be paid every penny by your employer. Numerous companies across the country that use the Cornerstone training system for online training may owe their employees additional wages. Call us today if you are an ...
When you work on a salary, it’s understood that your job expectations are to be completed within a certain amount of time, namely, a 40-hour work week. In some cases, employees may need to work overtime hours in order to fulfill their duties, but they should receive additional wages in order to compensate them for their time worked. Even salaried employees are entitled to overtime pay, unless they ...
Recently, the Sprint-authorized retailer Connectivity Source was suspected of not paying its employees fair overtime pay . Employees for the company who are eligible for commissions-based pay may be owed additional wages for weeks they worked overtime. The company currently has nearly 200 stores throughout the country, and employees from each location could be included in this developing case. ...
Earlier in the year, the Obama Administration backed and passed a ruling from the Department of Labor (DOL) that would have doubled the minimum threshold for mandatory overtime pay for salaried workers. As the ruling stated, starting December 1 st , 2016, the new threshold would be $47,476 per year, up from $23,660. That has not come into effect, however, and likely will not, due to a federal ...
You’re called into a conference room to discuss your impending layoff. As you listen to an HR official or legal counsel read off the terms of your termination, the question inevitably pops into your mind: Should I accept this severance offer, or pursue a lawsuit to recover damages instead? It can be difficult to know what to do after the shock of termination, especially if your employer has ...
When drafting a severance agreement , it is important that employers do so thoughtfully. Mistakes in severance agreements can leave employers vulnerable to a lawsuit and may attract the attention of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Learn what you need to know when drafting a severance agreement to keep your company safe from legal actions. Take an Individualized Approach One ...
The Houston Chronicle discusses the need for updates on sexual-harassment laws following the spark of the #MeToo movement. Read more below to learn how our very own, Todd Slobin is taking a proactive stance on changing Texas politics. Houston Chronicle Article - #MeToo movement needs to regain momentum
With Christmas and other winter holidays just around the corner, you may be gearing up to attend another holiday party at the office. While office parties can be a great way to relax and get to know your co-workers, these types of functions can easily get out of control, which may lead to uncomfortable or dangerous situations. This holiday season, discover the potential risks associated with ...
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), whether you are an employee or an applicant, it is unlawful to harass anyone due to their gender. Harassment can also be of a sexual nature and can happen between persons of the opposite or the same sex. Whether it’s an employer or co-worker, it is considered unlawful sexual harassment if any individual’s conduct results in a hostile ...
A recent class action case was brought against BL Restaurant Operations LLC, the company behind the upscale bar and grill chain Bar Louie. The claimants are bartenders employed by the chain, who allege that the salaried restaurant management was taking tips from the pool intended for the hourly-paid bartenders, failing to notify employees of tip credit, and required employees to spend more than ...
A recent class action case was brought against BL Restaurant Operations LLC, the company behind the upscale bar and grill chain Bar Louie. The claimants are bartenders employed by the chain, who allege that the salaried restaurant management was taking tips from the pool intended for the hourly-paid bartenders, failing to notify employees of tip credit, and required employees to spend more than ...
It’s all too easy for employers to take advantage of their employees, especially in a restaurant setting where wages often rely on fluctuating tips and tipping pool systems. Because of these types of wage structures, employees aren’t always aware that they aren’t receiving the compensation they’re owed. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) aims to protect restaurant workers from wage violations, ...
Working as a tipped employee has its perks, but dealing with a tip pool can be extremely challenging. Tip pools are not always handled in the most professional manner, either because employers aren’t aware of the proper protocol or they simply chose to ignore the rules in favor of their own system. When tips are gathered together and distributed unfairly, it can result in major issues, including ...
Many industries, especially those of service, employ a system of earning tips from satisfied customers who want to show their gratitude for particularly good service. As the system is set up, some employees even receive more money from their earned tips than they do from their regular wages. What many people don’t realize is their tips are protected under employee rights, which is why it is ...
When employees experience discrimination and/or harassment, they have the right to report such activity either to their employer or to an outside body (i.e. the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Additionally, they also have legal protections against employer retaliation. Retaliation happens when an employer punishes or otherwise takes a negative action against an employee for ...
With Christmas and other winter holidays just around the corner, you may be gearing up to attend another holiday party at the office. While office parties can be a great way to relax and get to know your co-workers, these types of functions can easily get out of control, which may lead to uncomfortable or dangerous situations. This holiday season, discover the potential risks associated with ...
Sexual harassment of any kind, from suggestive comments to unwanted sexual advances, is a clear violation of civil rights. But although employers have been legally obligated to fight gender-based discrimination since 1964, as defined in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act , women in particular still face routine sexual harassment at work. It’s estimated that anywhere between 25% and 85% of women ...