When employees lose their jobs, one of their biggest worries is how they will afford to pay for their healthcare and that of their families. Ordinarily, most employees who lose their jobs are able to maintain coverage on their existing group health plan through the month of their termination. After that, they may be eligible to enroll in a COBRA plan for an additional 18 months. Enrolling in a COBRA plan generally means that employees maintain … [Read more...]
What Changes Should We Expect in Employment Law Under the Biden Administration?
As we near the end of President Biden’s first 100 days in office, there have already been several policy changes that impact employees, including the extension of unemployment benefits under the recent $1.9 trillion stimulus package and the proposed withdrawal of the previous administration’s rule broadening the definition of independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In the coming months and years, expect to see more changes … [Read more...]
LGBTQ Civil Rights and Employment Law
On June 15, 2020, the United States Supreme Court took the monumental step of ruling that the Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. This protection means that an employee cannot be terminated because of their LGBTQ status. Prior to this ruling, various states had conflicting anti-discrimination policies, and unfortunately, some of these policies did not protect LGBTQ individuals. As … [Read more...]
Why Can Discrimination Make Job-Hunting In Minnesota Difficult?
Discrimination in the hiring process is illegal in Minnesota. Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prospective employers cannot discriminate against an applicant because of his or her race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, or age. Nonetheless, discrimination can and does still … [Read more...]
What to do if Your Disability Accommodation Request is Denied
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) make it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee on the basis of his or her disability. More than just prohibiting disability discrimination, these laws also require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities. But what should you do if your employer ignores or denies your accommodation request? Make sure … [Read more...]