Wage Theft Has Cost Low Income Workers Billions In Compensation
NBC News reports that wage theft is costing low wage earners literally billions in lost compensation. According to an analysis published by the Economic Policy Institute, close to $1 billion was recovered in 2012 on behalf of workers for Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations – such as being paid less than minimum wage or…
Read MoreWhen Is Workplace Bullying Discrimination?
A recent article raised an interesting question – is “bullying” a new form of workplace discrimination? The article was premised on the idea that often harassing behaviors occur within the office setting but may not rise to level of what workers think constitutes actionable discriminatory conduct. However, while many companies and employees recognize that blatant…
Read MoreShould You Be Receiving Overtime Pay?
A recent article in the New York Times looked at a complicated overtime pay issue – one that President Obama is seeking to simplify. The question is – who is entitled to overtime compensation? Under federal labor law – the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) – if you are a non-exempt hourly wage earner you…
Read MoreReligious Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Dunkin Doughnuts
Legal news reports that a federal religious discrimination lawsuit has just been filed against Dunkin Doughnuts. According to the lawsuit, a franchise refused to hire a North Carolina man who could not work Saturdays due to his religious beliefs. The man is a Seventh Day Adventist. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964…
Read MoreCheerleaders Win Wage Theft Lawsuit
The Oakland Raiders cheerleaders – The Raiderettes – have just settled their wage and hour lawsuit against the team. The minimum wage and overtime lawsuit asserted that the Oakland Raiders violated labor laws in several ways, including the failure to pay minimum wage and overtime compensation as required by law. Pursuant to the Fair Labor…
Read MoreSex Discimination Case Filed Against Costco
This past week, the EEOC filed a sex discrimination case against retail giant Costco. The Title VII lawsuit alleges that Costco violated federal sex discrimination laws when it failed to protect a female employee from unwanted sexual advances made by a customer. According to the lawsuit although the woman repeatedly complained to her managers about…
Read MorePolicies That Have Disparate Impacts On Protected Individuals May Be Discriminatory
Workplace discrimination can occur in a variety of manners. Although employment discrimination cases often focus on intentional acts of discrimination – such as not hiring someone or firing someone because of their race or gender – policies or actions that negatively impact a protected group may also constitute discrimination. Called “disparate impact” discrimination, this type…
Read More$4.2M Settlement in Wage and Hour Lawsuit
Financial services group Morgan Stanley has reached a nearly $5M settlement with its client services group concerning its alleged failure to pay workers overtime compensation. According to reports, the class action wage and hour lawsuit was filed on behalf of more than 800 current and former client associates. The associates were non-exempt employees, and hence…
Read MoreReligious Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Grocery Store
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination “because of” your religious beliefs. It also protects you from harassment based on your beliefs or religious affiliation, or retaliation if you complain abut discrimination. In addition, religious discrimination laws require that your employer make reasonable efforts to accommodate your beliefs and that your…
Read MoreWage and Hour Lawsuits May Affect Tipped Employee Compensation
Two wage and hour lawsuits are making their way through the court system that could have a large impact on how tipped employees are paid. Pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers may pay certain types of workers (such as waiters and waitresses) less than minimum wage. The law presumes that the amount…
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