The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulates hours and wages for American workers on the federal level. FLSA requires that all employers must pay employees at least the federal (or state if it is higher) minimum wage for all hours worked. Additionally, if an employee works over 40 hours in one week, he or she… Read More
Employment Blog
Here you can find the most recent employment law news and commentary on cases around the country. If you need assistance with employment law, don't hesitate to call us.
What are Essential Job Functions in ADA Cases?
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) aims to allow people with disabilities to have equal opportunities to join the workforce. First, the law prohibits discrimination, harassment, or retaliation against applicants or employees with real or perceived disabilities. Additionally,the law requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities if such accommodations… Read More
Seattle Venture Capitalist Supports Higher Minimum Wage
The Tri-City Herald recently reported on five “tycoons” who have taken an interest in the nation’s growing wage gap. While the five tycoons have different opinions on how the wage gap should be closed, they are all in agreement that something should be done. One of the five tycoons is Seattle’s Nick Hanauer. Hanauer believes… Read More
A Forklift, A Vending Machine, And Unemployment
The Seattle PI reported recently on an industrious, if misguided, Iowa man who really wanted his candy bar. Robert McKevitt was working at a warehouse when he decided to take a break. He put a dollar in a vending machine for a candy bar. The vending machine was known to have problems, but when the… Read More
Fired For Being Too Feminine
Iowa, like Washington, has laws against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Because of these laws, Wayne Shimer, a former employee of Casey’s General Store, has employment protections and the ability to seek legal relief for his discriminatory firing. Shimer tells the Des Moines Register of the pattern of discrimination he faced before he was… Read More
Accusations Of Fraudulent Business At Business School
A for-profit business school is under investigation for federal financial aid fraud after a former employee blew the whistle. The New York Times reports on Kelli Amaya, a former administrator for Harris School of Business from 2009 to 2011. Amaya is one of seven former employees who are suing the school in a qui tam… Read More
Restaurant Sued For Removing Accommodation
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing a Houston restaurant for disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. In many cases of disability discrimination, an employer fails to consider a disabled applicant or fails to provide reasonable accommodations so that the qualified applicant can perform required duties. In this case, however, the restaurant, Nick’s Restaurant… Read More
VW Trapped In Battle Over Unionization
Volkswagen auto workers in Tennessee became the center of attention last week when they prepared to vote on unionization of their factory. Unionization is usually a major deal for the workers and the employers, but it does not always receive much media coverage, particularly when the employer is not opposed to the union. However, in… Read More
Tri-City Farmers Need Bigger Batch of Workers
Even though the economy is recovering slowly, Washington farmers have seen major growth and success. Unfortunately, this rapid growth and the improving economy have led to a shortage in local farm workers. According to a Tri-City Herald story, Tri-City farmers hired more cherry and apple pickers last season than they did at the start of… Read More
Taco Bell Employees Shut Homeless Man In Dumpster
A Taco Bell manager made the news recently for allegedly telling his employees to lock a sleeping homeless man in the restaurant’s dumpster. According to the article, a customer, Jacob Cook, at the Redding, California Taco Bell, overheard employees tell their manager about a homeless man sleeping in the dumpster. The customer claims he heard… Read More