Discrimination: Race, National Origin

Articles (89)

Florida wrongful discharge law
Florida law does not recognize a “wrongful termination” or "wrongful discharge" claim, at least by that name. Florida is an at-will state, which means that an employer may fire, demote, hire, prom... applies to Florida

Overview of Unlawful Employment Discrimination
Unlawful employment discrimination means adverse treatment of employees motivated by the employees' age, sex, race, creed, religion, national origin, disability, veterans status or other protected cla... applies to All States

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act amends the enforcement provisions of Title VII and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to permit suits by Plaintiffs who file a charge of discrimination challengi... applies to All States

Evidence in Discrimination Cases
Discrimination cases turn on the employer's motive for taking an employment action, like failing to hire or firing an employee. The employee must prove that the employer's bias against people in the e... applies to All States

Proving Unlawful Employment Discrimination
Employment discrimination comes in two forms, "disparate" (i.e., differing) treatment and disparate impact. Disparate impact describes differing treatment resulting from an otherwise neutral employmen... applies to All States

Florida's Statutory History for Non-Compete Agreements
Florida law governing non-compete agreements has gone through three major variations since 1953. The enforceability of a covenant not to compete under Florida law is governed by the law in effect at t... applies to Florida

Arizona paid holidays are not mandatory
In Arizona, employers in the private sector are not required to give employees paid time off for national holidays. As a practical matter, most employers pay for the major holidays to keep competitive... applies to Arizona

Family and Care Giver Discrimination, Harassment and Discharge
Family responsibility discrimination is an emerging area of discrimination law. Although no specific law designates a family care giver as a protected class, a number of laws protect people with famil... applies to Florida

At-will employment in Ohio
Unless otherwise agreed, either party to an oral employment-at-will agreement may terminate the employment relationship for any reason which is not contrary to law. Mers v. Dispatch Printing Co., 19 O... applies to Ohio

List of Employment Law FAQs
Non-competition Severance pay Retaliation Sexual harassment Family leave Discrimination Wrongfully accused Overtime Tax Issues in Settlements Healthy Families Act Smoke free workplace Ohio non-compete... applies to All States

EEOC Time Limit for Filing a Charge of Discrimination
Before a sexual harassment or other discrimination victim can file suit in federal court, they must first file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Feder... applies to All States

The Role of Contracts in Employment Law
Contracts play a central role in employment law. The most basic employment arrangement, at-will employment, is purely contractual in nature. Floyd v. DuBois Soap Co. (1942), 139 Ohio St. 520, 530-531,... applies to All States

Executive Orders affecting Unions issued by the Obama Administration.
President Barack Obama signed a series of executive orders in his first month in office favorable to organized labor. They include: Notification of employee rights under federal labor laws ; Economy i... applies to All States

Overview of American At-will Employment
American employment law is built on the foundation of at-will employment. Before any meaningful body of employment law existed, employment in America was at-will. Based in state contract law, at-will ... applies to All States

Same Actor Inference
The "same actor inference" is a defense theory based on the logic that a discriminatory employer will not hire a person in a protected class. Therefore, the logic goes, where the same person hires the... applies to Ohio

Discovery Plans for Employment Litigation
A court’s Rules of Civil Procedure (its “Civil Rules”) empower the parties to gather evidence, including that in the control of opposing parties and reluctant witnesses. The Civil Rules do this ... applies to All States

The Role of Seniority in Employment Law
The concept of seniority has a high level of importance in employment law. For example, if there is a conflict between a bona fide seniority system and an agreement to settle a discrimination claim, i... applies to All States

Ohio Public Policy exception to At-will Employment
In Greeley v. Miami Valley Maint. Contractors , 49 Ohio St. 3d 228 (Ohio 1990), the Ohio Supreme Court held that "[p]ublic policy warrants an exception to the employment-at-will doctrine when an emplo... applies to Ohio

Family and Medical Leave Act 2008 Rule Changes.
The Department of Labor issued final changes to its Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rules, which took effect on January 16, 2009. These changes include the new leave related to military service me... applies to All States

Ohio Prohibition against Military and Uniformed Services Employment Discrimination
Ohio USERRA In 2008 Ohio enacted its own veteran's protection laws, which created the Department of Veterans' services and an Ohio private employment claim, found at ORC 5903.02: Any person whose abse... applies to Ohio

Military Employment Leave: Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights
Federal USERRA The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) was signed into law on October 13, 1994. USERRA clarifies and strengthens the Veterans' Reemployment Right... applies to All States

How to Value Claims for Severance Negotiations
This article describes a process for employment lawyers to use to place a value on a severance pay offer. It involves identifying claims, identifying the damages associated with those claims, discount... applies to All States

Qualified Privilege Protects Florida Employers from Employee Reference Defamation Suits
An employer is presumed immune from a defamation claim for disclosing untrue information about an employee’s job performance if the untrue information is: 1. Published to a prospective employer; 2. ... applies to Florida

How to Find and Select Good Employment Lawyers
Good employment lawyers are like good mechanics. They tell you what you need, suggest the best way to get it, are skilled at their craft and present you with a reasonable bill. Good employment lawyers... applies to All States

Ohio Duty of Fair Representation in the public sector
A union owes all of its members a duty of fair representation. The union cannot discriminate against an individual or group of members regarding matters for which the union represents them. This inclu... applies to Ohio

Enforcability of Texas Non-competition Agreements.
To be enforceable under Texas law, a non-compete must be: ancillary to or part of an otherwise enforceable agreement at the time the agreement is made; to the extent it contains limitations as to time... applies to Texas

Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. 42 USC 12101 et seq. A qualified individual with a disability is an individual with ... applies to All States

Arbitration of Employment Disputes
The federal arbitration act (FAA), 9 U.S.C. § 1, et seq . and Ohio’s arbitration act ORC § 2711.01 et seq. , both direct a court to stay trial of a matter that is the subject of a written arbitrat... applies to Ohio

USERRA Overview
Federal USERRA The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) was signed into law on October 13, 1994. USERRA clarifies and strengthens the Veterans' Reemployment Right... applies to All States

Retaliatory Counterclaims in Sexual Harassment Suits
If a party accused of sexual harassment in a suit (the Defendant) files a counterclaim against the harassment victim (the Plaintiff) after the Plaintiff filed suit, because she filed suit, courts will... applies to Ohio

Summary of ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA)
On September 25, 2008, President Bush signed the ADA Amendment Act (ADAAA) into law. It's effective date is January 1, 2009. The U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives both unanimously pass... applies to All States

Can my employer ask about my race?
Can an employer ask an employee or an applicant about their race? The short answer is technically no. In some states, it is legal for an employer to inquire about an employee or an applicant’s r... applies to California

Can My Employer Terminate or Reprimand Me for Not Speaking English in the Workplace
Enter your article here One of the areas of frequent complaint with employers, especially in areas such as South Florida and California is whether an employer can force an employee to speak only engli... applies to All States

Why I Won't Take Your Case
"Because you're an idiot," is probably a completely unacceptable reason for refusing to accept representation of a prospective client (even if it is the real reason.) For more than a decade of solo pr... applies to Pennsylvania

Hiring Managers Need to Consider All Backgrounds
In the April/May 2011 issue of the CNY Business Exchange, in a column entitled “A Diamond in the Rough,” Roger Evans writes words that every hiring manager should read: When you look across your d... applies to New York

6 Reasons California Workers Should Celebrate
For the past few years, there have been some disappointments for workers when it comes to their rights and their protection. Fortunately, where federal law fails, California has taken strides to ensur... applies to California

4 Misconceptions Employees Have About Harassment
Harassment remains an issue in the workplace yet many employees remain unaware of the ways it is regulated under employment laws. Employees may not know that there are different types of harassment an... applies to All States

4 Ways You May Become a Victim of Wrongful Termination
4 Ways You May Become a Victim of Wrongful Termination Wrongful termination is where an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason. Some illegal reasons may be if an employer fires an employee b... applies to All States

Five Facts About Hostile Work Environments
A hostile work environment harms employees. When offensive comments, toxic images, or other forms of harassment disrupt the workplace, it violates employees' rights. Multiple laws protect employee... applies to All States

NLRB Expands Employee Rights
In a significant recent development, the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") settled a case it brought against a private employer for having overbroad policies concerning an employee's activity on... applies to Tennessee

USERRA
Enter your article here Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 is a federal law intended to ensure that persons who serve or have serve... applies to All States

4 Rights Transgender Employees Have in California
While it is often challenging for any employee navigating work life to be a member of the LGBTQ community, transgender people tend to face the most severe problems, particularly in terms of discrimina... applies to California

Hostile Work Environment
Hostile Work Environment Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2" /> ame="Subt... applies to Pennsylvania

4 Misconceptions Employees Have About Harassment
4 Misconceptions Employees Have About Harassment Harassment remains an issue in the workplace yet many employees remain unaware of the ways it is regulated under employment laws. Employees may not kno... applies to All States

3 Upcoming Job Discrimination Cases with Huge Implications for LGBT Rights
The Supreme Court will soon be deciding on a matter very personal to people who are part of, or allies of, the LGBT (or LGBTQIA+) community. The major issue they are expected to rule on in three upcom... applies to California

It Is Prudent To Report And To Redress Alleged Race Discrimination And Retaliation
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-p... applies to New York

Hard Rock Cafe Servers Claim Illegal Tip Pooling
Enter your article here Well the national chain of Hard Rock Cafe restaurants have recently been hit with a lawsuit under the FLSA complaining about its tip handling procedures. The allegations of the... applies to All States

4 Reasons Why the Law Protects Whistleblowers
Before protective laws were enacted through Congress, workers couldn’t feel confident in reporting malfeasance throughout the workplace due to backlash and ostracization by superiors. Those empl... applies to All States

3 Ways Sexual Harassment Claims May Lead to Other Claims
A Work Attorney has many types of cases that end up on their desk, but the most common is sexual harassment. Sexual harassment within the workplace is against the law, yet remains a common issue. Vict... applies to All States

8 Main Disability Discrimination Questions
What are the 8 Main Disability Discrimination Questions? California is an at-will employment state. As an at-will employee in California, an individual may be terminated for any reason or no reason at... applies to All States

3 Things To Know About Taking a Leave From Work
3 Things To Know About Taking a Leave From Work It is early in the morning, the sun has yet to rise, and the alarm on your phone goes off. Work is hours away but this is the alarm you set is for yours... applies to All States

3 Ways You are Being Sexually Harassed and Didn’t Know
Every day a Sexual Harassment Lawyer is called regarding questions about sexual harassment that took place at an employee’s work. Although it is an unfortunate matter, the fact remains that sexu... applies to All States

Five Facts About Workplace Sexual Harassment
Workplace sexual harassment affects millions of people each year. According to a national study , nearly 40% of women and over 10% of men report experiencing sexual harassment at work. These five fact... applies to New York

Five Facts About Wrongful Termination
What constitutes wrongful termination? How can you prove your wrongful termination case? And can you sue for wrongful termination in an at-will state? Here are five facts you need to know about wrongf... applies to All States

2 Ways Employers Sometimes Illegally Discriminate Against Veterans
While individuals who serve in the military often make great sacrifices for their country, many people do not seem to understand or appreciate their service. Oftentimes, veterans struggle to readjust ... applies to California

Tips for Sex Discrimination in the Workplace
In 1982, Ann Hopkins applied for partnership at Price Waterhouse in New York, where she was a senior manager. The company held off on making the decision for a year and then refused to revisit her pro... applies to California

3 Basic Points About Employee Rights You Need To Know
3 Basic Points About Employee Rights You Need To Know Have you ever wondered what would happen if you lost your job because you were in an accident and needed time off? What if a new manager was hired... applies to All States

What is considered a wrongful termination in Ohio?
We are often asked by individuals and other attorneys, what is considered a " wrongful termination " in Ohio. The term "wrongful termination" really includes a wide variety of unla... applies to Ohio

Florida's Statutory History for Non-Compete Agreements
Non-Compete agreements have gone through three major variations since. Prior to 1953 1953 - 1996 1996 - Present The enforceability of a covenant not to compete under Florida law is governed by the law... applies to Florida

4 Steps that employer have to do to protect employees from sexual harassment
1- An anti-harassment policy Having a written sexual harassment prevention policy in place is not only a good measure for stopping sexual harassment before it happens, but California employers are als... applies to All States

A History of Harassment in the Workplace
Few federal agencies are as beloved as the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS stands for many of the core values that we value as a nation. It is the place where we seek beauty and wonder and solace... applies to California

5 Employees who are Targets of Discrimination and/or Wrongful Termination
5 Employees who are Targets of Discrimination and/or Wrongful Termination Employees in California are considered at-will employees . This means if you are employed in California, unlike other States, ... applies to All States

What if My Former Employer Says Bad Things About Me?
Enter your article here On many occasions employees ask whether or not they have a legal claim against their former employer or employers for giving bad references or saying bad things about them. The... applies to All States

Ohio Cuts Funding for Dept. of Commerce Minimum Wage Enforcement
This is troubling. According to a press release issued by Policy Matters , the current Ohio state budget has no funding for ongoing minimum wage enforcement. Specifically, Policy Matters states: Fundi... applies to Ohio

Hooters Waitress Brings Weight Discrimination Case
Enter your article here There has an increase in weight discrimination charges under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and I think potentially there could be claims for weight discrimination u... applies to All States

What Happens to My Job If I Suffer a Workers Compensation Injury
Enter your article here As many of you may know, a workers compensation injury is one where you have suffered an injury working on the job for your employer. Many employers carry workers compensation ... applies to Florida

Dont Let Your Employer Misclassify You As An Independent Contractor
Enter your article here The Federal Government and President Obama have announced that they with the IRS will be cracking down on enforcement of employers that misclassify their employees as 1099 inde... applies to All States

3 Ways Sexual Harassment and Leaves of Absence Can Be Connected
An incident of sexual harassment on one hand and taking a leave of absence on the other are two types of situations that would not appear to coexist in the same set of facts, but unfortunately, the tw... applies to All States

Tipped Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Enter your article here In many instances these days, employees are coming to my office with questions about tips, what hourly rate an employee who gets tips must be paid and whether an employer may r... applies to All States

Genetic Discrimination Under GINA
Enter your article here A woman who tested positive for the breast cancer gene brought suit against her employer MXnergy for violation of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) w... applies to All States

3 Examples of How “Me too” Matters in Employment Law
Since 2017, “me too” has become an increasingly familiar term (and hashtag), one used to spread awareness of sexual harassment and assault, problems that are alarmingly widespread. By some... applies to California

Is an Intern Supposed to Get Paid?
Enter your article here Many times a student intern is working for an employer without getting paid for the hours worked. In addition, when the intern is not paid as an employee, they are also not ent... applies to All States

3 Examples of Invasions of Privacy in the Workplace
Unlike other states, California has a special protection of privacy written into its constitution, which says citizens have certain inalienable rights, including “pursuing and obtaining safety, ... applies to California

What is a Qui Tam?
Enter your article here SAN FRANCISCO — Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG is paying $72.5 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit accusing it of improperly billing government programs for u... applies to All States

What is the ADA?
Enter your article here While the American With Disabilities Act (ADA) has several components, the portion I am going to talk about right now is Title I which pertains to discrimination in employment ... applies to All States

Should I Be Getting Paid Overtime as a Salaried Employee?
Enter your article here On many occasions, employees come to me who are working dozens of hours for their employers, but are not getting paid overtime. I ask them why and the response is , I'm salarie... applies to All States

New York Sexual Harassment Protections
What is workplace sexual harassment? Sexual harassment in the workplace covers unwelcome physical contact, demanding sexual favors for employment benefits, and hostile work environments. Hiring manage... applies to New York

Can I Sue A Company For Wrongful Termination In California?
“We need to talk” is not just a terrifying phrase to hear from your significant other, it is also something you never want to hear from your boss. No good can come from the phrase and if i... applies to All States

What is sex or gender discrimination?
In general, there are certain types of people or people with certain characteristics who are protected by the law when it comes to discrimination in the workplace. There are state and federal laws in ... applies to All States

4 Things To Know About Leaves Of Absence And Wrongful Termination
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you became very ill suddenly and couldn’t go to work? What if your child or spouse became ill or he or she was severely injured in an accident; would ... applies to California

7 Famous Whistle blowers Who Sought Truth and Justice
While most whistleblower cases do not make headlines, some of them do because of the scope of wrongdoing found or the fame of the businesses or people involved. Whistleblower laws protecting people wh... applies to California

2 Challenges Veterans Might Face at Work
Veterans often have difficulties getting hired, in part due to widespread stereotypes and biases against them. Even when veterans get past that first stage and are hired (congrats!), they unfortunatel... applies to California

5 Ways Employers Can Discriminate Against Workers
5 Ways Employers Can Discriminate Against Workers Employers can, unfortunately, find different ways to discriminate against their employees. Particular classes of people and different characteristics ... applies to All States

4 Situations Where an Employer May Retaliate
4 Situations Where an Employer May Retaliate Retaliation is a type of practice that is deemed unlawful under employment laws. An employee may experience retaliation when he or she makes a complaint ab... applies to All States

3 Ways You Didn’t Know You’re Being Discriminated Against at Work
Setting fire to your manager’s desk in some countries may earn you a verbal warning. Well, that may be an exaggeration, but basically, unlike California, there are places in the world where ... applies to All States

3 Types of Issues Employment Lawyers May Handle
From suing a dry cleaning service for losing a pair of pants to filing for the return of a kidney, people today will sue for the craziest things. In order to sue for all of these wacky claims, there n... applies to All States

Employment Law Topics

Employment Law FAQs

Discrimination: Race, National Origin