Just before the end of 2013, the Seattle Times reported that Costco reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit with some of its female employees. The lawsuit originated with a single employee and later became a class action encompassing many female employees. After nearly a decade, the parties appear to have reached an agreement. The… 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.
Unpaid Intern Cases Settles
New York Fashion Week is the main event for many people in the fashion industry, from designers, to magazine reporters, to models. The week-long event involves weeks of preparation, planning, and organization. Elite Model Management, Corp. is responsible for providing a large amount of the models needed to walk in the hundreds of fashion shows… Read More
Court Action Against Walmart
Retail giant Walmart has been in the news many times over the past year, mostly for poor or questionable treatment of its employees. Labor advocates have raised many questions regarding the low pay of Walmart employees and its response to employees who protest against the company’s actions. The law prohibits a company from retaliating against… Read More
Indian Diplomat under Fire for Breaking Employment and Visa Laws
Devyani Khobragade is a 39-year-old diplomat from India who was stationed in the Consulate General of India in New York, NY. While she was in the United States, Khobragade wished to employ Sangeeta Richard, an Indian citizen, as a nanny and domestic servant. Khobragade helped Richard secure the proper visa and Richard worked in her… Read More
Strange New Industry Growing in Portland
With the economy still struggling and the unemployment rates looming, many Oregonians are coming up with new and creative ways to make a few dollars. Start-up businesses are cropping up across the state, many based on ideas that sound strange at first, though prove to be successful. For example, many people balked at the idea… Read More
Non-Compete Agreements in Oregon
At the start of employment, many companies want new employees to sign a non-compete agreement, also known as a covenant not to compete. A non-compete agreement is, simply put, a contract that protects an employer by prohibiting certain competition in business by employees or former employees. If an employee signs a non-compete agreement, they may… Read More
Employers Win Battle Over Workplace Poster
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided not to fight the U.S. Court of Appeals unfavorable ruling over its 2011 workplace poster requirement. In 2011, the NLRB began requiring private employers to post an 11×17 poster that explained the basics of employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The NLRA provides employees the… Read More
Minimum Wage Prospects Increase In Washington And Seattle
Just days before Washington’s Governor Mike Inslee called for a minimum wage increase in his State of the State address, Seattle’s Mayor Ed Murray stated he was looking for non-ballot measure methods for raising the minimum wage for city employees to $15 an hour. These decisions come on the heels of heavily covered SeaTac’s voter… Read More
Seven-Day Workweek: Opportunity or Curse
A Wisconsin state senator is proposing legislation that will lift the state’s law prohibiting a seven-day workweek. Currently the law requires manufacturing and retail employers to give employees 24-hours rest for every seven-day period. Wisconsin is one of only a few states to have laws requiring rest periods for employees in non-healthcare situations. But, the… Read More
USPS To Reinstate National Guardsman Fired For “Excessive Military Leave”
Early in January of this year, a federal review board ordered the United States’ Postal Service (USPS) to reinstate and provide back pay for one of its former employees. There are a number of details that make this order more surprising than one would think. Two of the more shocking aspects of this story are… Read More