At least six workers at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa died from COVID, and eventually Tyson shut the plant down. Last year surviving family members of four of the workers sued the plant managers and the company in Iowa state court, claiming that the defendants were negligent in failing to develop and implement adequate safety measures at the facility. The plaintiffs further claimed that the company lied to them about … [Read more...]
Former Employees May Be Eligible for “Free” COBRA Coverage
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...]
Employee Rights and Vaccinations
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...]
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...]
