Some employment law terms are fairly straightforward. For example, both discrimination and sexual harassment are common terms and therefore most Americans are familiar with them. However, some employment law terms are more vague and difficult to grasp. The concept of...
Year: 2014
Understanding the basics of age discrimination
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects older workers from age discrimination in the workplace. It is worth noting that this law only protects workers aged 40 and older from illegal discriminatory practices. Although some state laws protect young workers...
Working while pregnant: An employment law primer
Working while you are pregnant can be a stressful process. You may find yourself to be more tired than usual and hungrier than usual. You may find yourself in need of more frequent restroom breaks. And you may generally just be uncomfortable while you are trying to do...
Preparing for holiday-related employment challenges
‘Tis the season to hire workers for the holiday and winter seasons. It is also time to prepare part-time and full-time workers for challenges unique to the holiday season. From an employment law standpoint, both employers and employees can benefit from understanding...
The influx of seasonal employees puts stress on HR departments
It can be hectic during the holidays. Most industries -- from retailers, to cell phone providers, to production factories -- will likely see a significant upturn in orders and customer traffic. In the coming months, retailers will be adding numerous employees to help...
Putting a face on pregnancy discrimination suits
It is sometimes difficult to observe a systemic problem with any sort of clarity. We frequently write about the prevalence of discrimination within the American workplace. This problem is so varied and so widespread that it can be easy to speak about it in terms that...
Should employees be protected from weight discrimination?
It is well known that federal laws protect job seekers and employees from employment discrimination based on a number of characteristics. These “protected classes” include gender, race, national origin, religion, disability and pregnancy. While these protected classes...
U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in Amazon wage-and-hour case
Most of us have had at least one job in the past that came with some unpaid responsibilities before and after work. Take commuting, for instance. In most cases, your employer does not have to pay you for the time you spend getting to work and getting home, regardless...
Study: Performance reviews for men and women differ
We frequently write about the kinds of biases and mistreatment that many Americans face while they are at work. Some forms of discrimination and mistreatment are obvious. For example, if your boss insists that he will fire you unless you sleep with him, you can be...
Understanding the basics of wage theft
Under both state and federal law, workers are entitled to certain wage and hour protections. In general, workers are not only entitled to a minimum wage, they are entitled to the wages they have been promised they will earn in exchange for their performance as...