Many employers are requiring that employees eligible for COVID-19 vaccines must get the vaccine and must provide proof of this vaccination before returning to work. There is a clear public health justification for this requirement, and employers will be given wide latitude in enforcing this kind of policy. Affected employees, however, need to understand their rights and there are certain scenarios when these requirements may have to … [Read more...]
COVID-19 and Severance Payments
If you work for a company that employs at least 100 people, and you lose your job because of a plant closing or a “mass layoff” (one third of the workforce or a big enough number of people), you could be entitled to up to 60 days’ notice or 60 days’ pay in lieu of notice. That’s what’s required under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (“WARN”) Act. Seems pretty simple and straightforward, but as with most laws, the devil … [Read more...]
Identifying Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
State and federal laws prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace, and what qualifies as sexual harassment is broad. According to the EEOC, sexual harassment includes “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.” Non-verbal conduct can qualify as well. The harassment doesn’t have to come from the victim’s supervisor; it can come from management and non-management … [Read more...]
How Do I Win a Wrongful Termination Case in MN?
When determining whether you should pursue a wrongful termination case in Minnesota, you must first take a long hard look at why you believe you were fired. Minnesota employees in most situations are designated as “at-will” employees, which means that their employers can terminate them for any reason, so long as it is not illegal. So, even if the termination is illogical, unfair, or unethical, if the termination does not violate the … [Read more...]
Discrimination and Harassment Based on Race, Color, Religion, and National Origin
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibit discrimination and frequent or severe harassment based on an individual’s race, color, religion, or national origin when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment. These types of workplace discrimination and harassment are … [Read more...]
