Public Employees: Civil Service

Articles (111)

Commissioned retail or service sales exemption to overtime payment
Employment by a retail or service establishment Employees of a retail or service establishment are exempt from overtime if: their regular rate of pay is at least one and one-half times the federal min... applies to All States

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

Depositions in Employment Litigation
Each case turns on its own facts. However, employment litigants rarely have all of the facts that they need to prove their claims. Instead, they must usually obtain documents and testimony from the em... applies to All States

Requests for Admissions in Employment Litigation
Each case turns on its own facts. However, employment litigants rarely have all of the facts that they need to prove their claims. Instead, they must usually obtain documents and testimony from the em... applies to All States

Filing sexual harassment claims in Illinois
Victims of sexual harassment in Illinois can vindicate their right to be free from sexual harassment under Illinois law by filing a charge or claim with the Illinois Department Human Rights, with the ... applies to Illinois

Interrogatories in Employment Litigation
Each case turns on its own facts. However, employment litigants rarely have all of the facts that they need to prove their claims in their possession. Instead, they must usually obtain documents and t... applies to All States

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

Enforcing Non-competition Agreements after the Sale of a Business
If an employer with non-competition agreements sells its business to a new buyer, the buyer does not necessarily acquire the old employer's/seller's rights in its non-competition agreements. The buyer... applies to All States

Document Requests in Employment Litigation
Each case turns on its own facts. However, the parties rarely have in their possession all of the facts in a case. Instead, they must usually obtain documents and testimony from the opposing party and... applies to All States

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

Wrongful Discharge - Terminations that Violate Public Policy
Technically speaking, courts do not recognize a claim for "wrongful discharge," at least by that name. Broadly speaking, any discharge that violates a law, causes great harm or is grossly unfair is "w... applies to All States

Minimum Wage and Overtime Exemptions
The Fair Labor Standards Act (the "FLSA") excludes individuals from coverage and exempts others from overtime and/or the minimume wage. The FLSA excludes individuals in the definition of "employee" in... applies to All States

Motions to Compel and Protective Orders in Employment Litigation
The Rules of Civil Procedure ("Civil Rules") provide the parties with tools to get the facts that are in the possession of the others. If the others refuse to disclose the facts, provide documents or ... applies to All States

Preliminary Injunctions in Non-competition Cases
A preliminary injunction is a court order, issued at the beginning of a case, which preserves the relative position of the parties while the case is pending. It usually remains in effect until replace... 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

Severance Package
A severance package describes the pay and benefits an employee receives when involuntarily separated from a company. Severance packages are voluntary in the United States, so employers do not have a l... applies to All States

American Public Policy Exception to Employment at-will
In states that adopt the public policy exception to employment at will, public policy warrants an exception to the employment-at-will doctrine when an employer discharges or disciplines an employee fo... 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

Trade Secrets Overview
A trade secret is information that is not known to the public, that its owner takes steps to keep from public knowledge and that has value because it is not known to the public. The owners of trade se... applies to All States

Negotiating Severance Agreements
Parties bargaining to reach a mutually acceptable outcome must, as with any negotiation: Have a shared desire to resolve the dispute; Identify the interests at stake; Invent options for mutual gain; S... applies to All States

Virginia Non-competition Law
Restrictive covenants are disfavored in Virginia as restraints on trade. Virginia courts will enforce restraints in non-competes only if the restraint is: reasonable in that it is no greater than nece... applies to Virginia

Tortious Interference Involving Non-Competition Agreements
In most states, a third party cannot interfere with the contractual or prospective business relationships between two other parties, absent a proper purpose. This claim is known as “tortious interfe... applies to All States

Closing the Severance Pay Negotiation with Non-economic Terms
The amount of severance that an employer is willing to pay an employee, though usually the single most important item addressed in severance negotiations, is only one severance issue. Additional issue... applies to All States

Other Legal Links for posting to Resources page
Akron Community & Government The complete online guide to the Akron area, with accomodations, real estate, business and location information. AttorneysDelivered.com Search our professionally scree... applies to Nebraska

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

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

Right to Vote without Employer Interference or Threat of Discharge
Ohio's Right to Vote law states: No employer, his officer or agent, shall discharge or threaten to discharge an elector for taking a reasonable amount of time to vote on election day; or require or or... applies to Ohio

Illinois Non-competition Agreement Law
Illinois courts are reluctant to enforce restrictive covenants and scrutinize them carefully. Nevertheless, Illinois courts will enforce a restrictive covenant if it is ancillary to another transactio... applies to Illinois

Indiana Non-competition Law
Indiana courts disfavor covenants not to compete, which they view as in restraint of trade. Harvest Ins. Agency, Inc. v. Inter-Ocean Ins. Co. 492 N.E.2d 686 (Ind. 1986). Indiana courts strictly constr... applies to Indiana

Ohio Minimum Wage with Treble Damages and Attorneys Fees
On November 7, 2006 Ohio voters passed the Ohio Constitutional Minimum Wage , which amended Ohio’s constitution to require employers to pay a minimum wage of $6.85 per hour. The amount of the minimu... applies to Ohio

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

New York Non-competition Law
New York state courts enforce post-employment non-competition agreements under certain circumstances, but their examination of restrictive covenants is rigorous. New York courts adhere to a strict app... applies to New York

Ohio Physicians and Doctor non-competition agreements
Non-competition agreements are generally disfavored in the medical profession, but they are not per se unenforceable. Ohio Urology, Inc. v. Poll (1991), 72 Ohio App.3d 446, 451; General Med., P.C. v. ... applies to Ohio

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

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

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

California Non-competition Law
At one time California courts enforced contractual restraints on competition as long as they were reasonably imposed. However, in 1872 California adopted a public policy favoring open competition and ... applies to California

Rights of an Ohio Employee who is a Minority Shareholder
A special exception to employment at-will doctrine applies to employees who are minority shareholders of close corporations. In their case, majority shareholders cannot terminate their employment with... applies to Ohio

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

Whistleblower Protection for Safety Complaints in Ohio
Ohio Employees can make legally protected complaints about unsafe work conditions to their employers and to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). OSHA specifically prohibits employ... applies to Ohio

Tired Truckers: How the Tracy Morgan Crash is a Sign of a Bigger Problem
Driving while tired can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated, and in an industry that pushes the limits on production, tired truck drivers are often the result. The recent tractor trailer... applies to North Carolina

Help for Non-competition Problems
Non-competition agreements can block promising career paths. Even so, every state enforces them, but within limits. For help solving your non-compete problems, learn the limits. Neil Klingshirn has wr... applies to All States

Families First Coronavirus Response Act - An analysis of House Bill 6201
On March 19, 2020 the Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to address some employment impacts of the coronavirus and COVID-19. It was a much smaller version of the Act that passed... applies to All States

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

Choice of Law in Non-compete Cases
Non-compete laws vary significantly from state to state. California law favors employees, while Ohio law recognizes and protects most employer interests. Thus, the law that a court chooses to apply to... applies to All States

Who should have to pay back overpaid Unemployment Benefits in North Carolina?
The majority of contested NC unemployment benefits cases we handle involve the following situation: The Claimant (former employee) files for unemployment benefits. The Employer gives the Division of E... applies to North Carolina

Time off to Vote
Most state's laws require employers to give employees time off to vote. These laws vary among states, particularly with respect to the following: Whether the time off is paid or not; Whether the emplo... applies to All States

Posting Blog Articles
Each attorney member can post blog articles. However, only attorneys can post Blog articles. Blog articles are useful for announcing legislative alerts , Member victory announcements and discussing cu... applies to All States

Florida Whistleblower's Act Protects Employees of the Government and Companies that Contract with Florida Governments
The Florida legislature enacted the Florida whistleblower's Act, Fl. Stat. 112.3187 in 1986 to prevent state and local government agencies ("Agencies,") and the companies that contract with Agencies (... applies to Florida

Non-competition Agreements in Ohio - History and Law
History of non-competition agreements in Ohio As in other states, Ohio courts at one time viewed noncompetition agreements with some skepticism. Agreements in restraint of trade, including noncompetit... applies to Ohio

Arizona Non-competition Agreement Law
Historically, Arizona courts viewed covenants not to compete unlawful restraints of trade. Eventually, Arizona courts began to enforce ancillary restraints on competition, such as those incident to em... applies to Arizona

Injunctions Barring Enforcement of Invalid Non-competes
Employers who enforce non-competition agreements have long sought temporary restraining orders (TROs) and preliminary injunctions to bar employees from violating valid non-competition agreements. Cour... 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

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

Fighting Florida Non-competition agreements
Many Florida employees believe that, just because an employer forced them to sign a non compete agreement or be fired, they are not bound by the non-compete agreement. That is just not true. Continued... applies to Florida

Physician non-competition agreements in Michigan
Michigan non-competition agreement law states that an employer may protect an employer's reasonable competitive business interests, but its protection in terms of duration, geographical scope, and the... applies to Michigan

Employee Benefits Overview
As a result of the employment relationship, employees are entitled to certain benefits, such as retirement and disability compensation, as a matter of law. In addition, once an employer decides to off... applies to All States

Overview of U.S. Non-competition Agreements
A non-competition agreement, also know as a covenant not to compete, is a promise by an employee not to compete with his or her employer for a specified time, in a particular place or in a particular ... applies to All States

Exempt or Nonexempt: Do You Receive Overtime Pay?
When it comes to the idea of overtime pay, most think that only the laborer, manufacturer or other "blue collar" worker is eligible to receive overtime, not the professional, executive, supervisor or ... applies to California

Florida Law for Employer Defamation
Suppose an employer accuses its employee of theft, and fires her for that reason. Suppose the employer then tells prospective employers who call for a reference that the employee was terminated for th... applies to Florida

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

Michigan Non-competition Agreement Law
The Michigan Antitrust Reform Act generally prohibits any "contract, combination, or conspiracy between 2 or more persons in restraint of, or to monopolize, trade or commerce." Mich. Comp. Laws § 445... applies to Michigan

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

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

Pennsylvania Non-competition agreements
“Non-competition” or “noncompete” agreements are one of a particular kind of contract, termed “restrictive covenants,” under Pennsylvania law. As in most states, noncompetition agreements ... applies to Pennsylvania

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

Cleveland Public Relations Firm Ordered to Pay a Million Dollars for Retaliation
A Cleveland jury ordered Dix & Eaton, a public relations firm, to pay over $1,000,000 for retaliating against a 59 year old executive who complained to Human Resources that her boss was setting he... applies to Ohio

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

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

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

Change in Employer Wage Notification Requirements
Effective April 9, 2011 the New York Wage Theft Protection Act of 2010 has substantially modified the existing wage notification requirements under New York Labor Law Section 195. Under prior law, an ... applies to New York

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

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

How People Have Fought Against Discrimination
Many employees face discrimination . The ADA, ADEA, Title VII Civil Rights Act and OSHA’ s whistleblower laws help females, minorities, disabled or mentally challenged employees either get and k... applies to All States

City of Tulsa settles pregnancy discriminition case
The City of Tulsa has settled a pregnancy discrimination case filed by a former employee in the public works department. In 2011, the City of Tulsa hired Qamar Herd three weeks before her scheduled de... applies to Oklahoma

Josh Morrow Workplace Fairness Fund for Employment Litigation Court Costs.
The Josh Morrow Workplace Fairness Fund provides loans to attorneys representing employees in litigation against their employers. Loans must be repaid from any recovery but are generally forgiven if t... applies to All States

The EEOC Announces Multiple Six Figure Settlements of 100% Healed Cases.
100% Healed Policies: A Recipe for Disaster. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently announced six figure settlements of multiple federal lawsuits alleging employer failures to accommodat... 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

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

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

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

3 Ways You May be a Victim of the Retaliation and Constrictive Discharge Hybrid
In a perfect world, employees could go to work knowing they would not be mistreated by their employer or superiors. However, we don’t live in a perfect world and employees are subjected to unspe... applies to All States

Don't Be Afraid, It Can Be Better Than Court
If you are in California and are being forced into private, binding arbitration do not be afraid. I have found that it is easier to win a binding arbitration than a jury trial. The atmosphere is more ... applies to California

GEORGE AZADIAN & ANI AZADIAN RECOGNIZED AS 2016 “RISING STARS” BY SUPER LAWYERS
George Azadian and Ani Azadian were recognized as 2016 “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers Magazine. Super Lawyers selects attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and per... applies to California

FRONTINO V. MACY’S: AZADIAN LAW GROUP WINS $669,308 FOR EMPLOYEE AGAINST MACY’S FOR RETALIATION AND WRONGFUL TERMINATION
Mr. Azadian started off 2016 with a $669,308 win against retail-giant Macy’s in a retaliation and wrongful termination lawsuit where his client was terminated after making complaints that he was... 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

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

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

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

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Medical Leave Of Absence From Work
Currently, a majority of employees in California struggle with work-life balance. An individual may be striving for that promotion at work, finding time to go to their kid’s soccer game, praying... applies to All States

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

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

How To Deal With Sexual Harassment Outside Of The Workplace
How to deal with sexual harassment outside of the workplace? It is well-settled law in California under the Fair Employment and Housing Act as well as the California Government Code § 12940(k) th... applies to All States

5 Awkward Sexual Harassment Situations at Work
Getting your dream job, let alone a job in general already comes equipped with jumping through hoops and competing with other eager job seekers. Just getting invited to come in for an interview is a m... 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 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 The Pregnancy Discrimination Act
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 ( Pub.L. 95–555 ) amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy. This Act outlaws discrimination “o... 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

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

How to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
Do you know how to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace ? Although sexual harassment within the workplace is against the law in California, it remains a hot-button issue in the media as well as ... applies to All States

4 Ways Employment Law Addresses Sex Discrimination
In 2019, especially in California, society has gravitated to a more forward-thinking attitude towards the way sex and gender is understood. Ideas of what is considered “normal” or the very... applies to California

5 Ways an Employer May Be Liable For Disability Discrimination
Employment laws in America encourage employees with disabilities and their employers to work in harmony in the workplace. Whether an individual with a disability is applying for a job or a current emp... applies to All States

5 Awkward Sexual Harassment Situations at Work
5 Awkward Sexual Harassment Situations at Work Getting your dream job, let alone a job in general already comes equipped with jumping through hoops and competing with other eager job seekers. Just get... applies to All States

Applicants and Temporary Employees are afforded the Same Rights as Regular Employees Under FEHA
A decrease in unemployment rates leaves job-applicants vulnerable to sexual harassment . In June 2017, California’s Employment Development Department reported that the unemployment rate dropped ... 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

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

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

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Public Employees: Civil Service