Search for protected

Articles (81)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can HR share medical leave information with Supervisors?
An HR representative Asked mel this question today: The Administrator of the corporate office wants me to cc supervisors on all notices sent to their employee's who are on protected leaves of absence,... applies to Ohio

What is sexual orientation harassment or discrimination?
An Employment Lawyer is an attorney who may represent an employee against their employer in a situation where he or she was treated poorly at work based on their sexual orientation. But what is sexual... applies to All States

Five Facts About Retaliation
Employers cannot retaliate against employees who act as whistleblowers, file a complaint about an employment violation, or engage in other legally protected activities. But what is retaliation? And wh... applies to New York

Who is Considered an Immediate “family member” for purposes of taking FMLA Leave?
As if working hard for that promotion or striving for better shifts wasn’t hard enough, what happens when the unexpected throws you off course? Becoming extremely ill, being injured in an accide... 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

What Are My Employment Rights if I am or Become Pregnant?
As society continues to advance, Americans are living longer, maintaining their car eers, and deciding to have children a little later in life. Most adults today want it all and employment laws, espec... 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

EEOC Expands Definition of Disability
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued final rules, effective May 24, 2011, interpreting the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008. The new rules broaden coverage unde... applies to New York

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

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

Do I need to provide a doctor’s note to verify the need for a medical leave of absence?
Taking a medical leave of absence is not ideal for an employee or their employer, but it happens. The law recognizes that sometimes things happen in an employee’s life that they have little or n... applies to All States

6 Nuances of Disability Discrimination Law in California
Under California state law, workers with a disability are protected against several forms of discrimination in employment practices. Employers subject to this legislation cannot base employment decisi... 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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Disabilities that May Be Protected By Employment Law
5 Disabilities that May Be Protected By Employment Law Disability discrimination is where an employer refuses to acknowledge your impairment as a disability and treats you adversely based on your disa... applies to California

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 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

Burden of Proof in Age Discrimination cases after Gross v. FBL Financial Services
Last month's U.S. Supreme Court decision, Gross v. FBL Financial Services changed the burden of proof on age discrimination victims. Previously, courts required age discrimination victims to prove tha... applies to All States

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

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

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

3 Illegal Ways Employers Punish You for Taking Time Off
Employees have certain rights to leaves of absence from work. When they are entitled to time off, the employer cannot punish them for taking it. When employers do punish employees for legally protecte... applies to California

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five Facts about New York's New Employment Protections
In June 2019, the New York Legislature passed major changes to the state's employment laws. The new and expanded provisions offer greater protections to victims of sexual harassment and workplace ... 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

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

4 Things You Should Know About Pregnancy and Employment Laws
Women should not be discouraged from pursuing their dream of having a family while also maintaining their career. There are laws in place that provide security for women who are pregnant or have pregn... applies to California

3 Ways Employment Law Measures Disability Discrimination
Rather than asking the question of ‘if’ an individual is disabled, the laws that regulate disability discrimination attempts to measure ‘how much’ a person is impaired by their... applies to California

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Being Forced to Quit
If your boss fires you for an illegal reason you can assume you should call an Employment Attorney to discuss a potential suit against the organization for wrongful termination at the very least, but ... 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

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

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Being Forced to Quit
If your boss fires you for an illegal reason you can assume you should call a wrongful termination attorney to discuss a potential suit against the organization for wrongful termination at the very le... 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

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

5 Ways to Avoid Conflict When You Take a Leave of Absence
Injuries, illnesses, family emergencies, and accidents happen but what if it happens to an employee? Employees in California do have rights when it comes to a leave of absence for particular reasons. ... applies to California

Employment Law Topics

Employment Law FAQs

Search for protected