If you find yourself in the difficult and demoralizing position of experiencing discrimination or retaliation in the workplace, you have options for exercising your rights and pursuing claims against your employer. One of these options is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”)[1]. The EEOC helps enforce federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee because of the individual’s race, … [Read more...]
Can I sue my employer for wage theft?
A quick Google search about wage theft in the United States will yield dozens of articles identifying this prominent issue and sharing the stories of individuals whose employers have deprived them of their lawfully earned wages. Given the inherent power imbalance between employers and their employees, as well as employees’ fears of retaliation and desire to remain employed, it is no surprise that some employers take advantage of their control and … [Read more...]
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”) is a new law that expands protections for pregnant workers throughout the country. This law requires covered employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an “undue hardship.” Let’s breakdown the facets of this law. Covered Employer In this … [Read more...]
Accommodations in the Workplace for Managing Disabilities
Blog written by Makenzie Krause and Mack Reed. When an employee brings a claim against their employer for failure to accommodate a disability, the employer often argues it was not aware of the disability, and that in any event the employee never requested an accommodation. Because many employee/employer interactions occur through verbal conversations (either on the phone, via Zoom, or in person), employees often have little evidence … [Read more...]
How has the #MeToo movement impacted the workplace?
The “Me Too Movement” began in 2006 with Tarana Burke, who created the program to empower young women of color from marginalized communities who have been sexually abused, assaulted, or exploited. The movement went viral when Alyssa Milano tweeted “#MeToo” on October 15, 2017, subsequently sparking interest in the discourse surrounding the prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse in our culture. One social sphere that took extra notice to the … [Read more...]
