Human trafficking is a term for a person or group holding another person for compelled service. Related common terms include involuntary servitude and forced labor. Human trafficking is a serious problem in almost every country in the world and the United States is no exception. The Trafficking in Persons Report of 2011 published by the… Read More
Posts Categorized In: Current Affairs
Seattle-Area Warehouse Roof Collapses in Heavy Rain
The roof of a woodworking warehouse in the Seattle suburb of Kent collapsed due to heavy rains in the area. According to an article from KHQ News, nobody was hurt by the roof collapse, which was due to drains in the corner of the warehouse being unable to deal with the sudden increase in rain…. Read More
ADA Turns 23 This July
When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was into law 23 years ago this month, it marked an expansion of civil rights protections to people with disabilities. In many ways it is similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits certain parties from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or… Read More
Whistleblowing Accusations Against Prosecutors in Zimmerman Case
Last week, the not guilty verdict announced after the five week-long George Zimmerman trial sparked debates and demonstrations throughout the nation. The office of Florida State Attorney Angela Corey has faced harsh criticism by legal experts and thousands of Americans for its failed prosecution efforts. In addition, Zimmerman’s defense team has made clear plans to… Read More
SeaTac Voters Could Establish Country's Highest Minimum Wage
This November, voters in the city of SeaTac could pass the SeaTac Good Jobs Initiative (“GJI”), which would establish the highest minimum wage in the country, according to an article from Seattle-based KOMO News Network. The SeaTac ballot initiative would establish a minimum wage of $15 per hour for certain employees at the Seattle-Tacoma International… Read More
Whistleblower Collects $2.7 Million for Exposing Employer's Fraud
Craig Thomas, a former employee of Tacoma-based Sound Inpatient Physicians, Inc., will receive $2.7 million of a $14.5 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit under the federal False Claims Act (“FCA”). The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that Sound agreed to pay the sum to the United States government to settle claims that Sound had… Read More
Nepotism in Oregon's Employment Department
Nepotism complaints are not very common in the state of Oregon, especially as compared to the large amount of annual complaints alleging discrimination or wage and hour violations. In fact, labor officials report investigating only a handful of possible nepotism cases each year. However, nepotism allegations have recently surfaced from perhaps the most unexpected place–the… Read More
Gawker Media Sued by Interns for FLSA Violations
The economic downturn of recent years has led to an increase in the number of unpaid internships being offered. Employers are certainly happy to have additional unpaid help, and students and other job-seekers find these positions desirable in order to add additional experience to their resumes. While at first glance unpaid internships may seem like… Read More
Spokane Hair Stylist Sues Spa That Told Her to Wear a Wig to Work
Hair stylist Melanie Strandberg quit her job at a spa in Spokane after she was told to wear a wig to cover her bald head at work. The Spokane Spokesman-Review reports that she has since filed a discrimination lawsuit against her former employer. The question is, what kind of discrimination did she face? After Strandberg… Read More
Flier Tells Oregon Workers to Say "Hasta La Vista" To Jobs if They Unionize
Controversies about unionization or employment rights rarely bring out the best in people. When disagreements arise about whether or not workers should unionize, almost everyone involved in the situation is likely to have a strong view about the right course of action, and can be quite aggressive in his or her quest to convince others…. Read More