Most people have seen the “X days since last workplace accident” signs at some point in their life. The larger the number of days the better it is for employers and employees. Spokane Purina Mill will have a very small number after an accident on October 5. The Spokesman-Review reported on the recent unfortunate workplace… 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.
Prohibited Interview Questions
Most employers know that it is against Oregon laws to discriminate against any employees on the basis of race, national origin, color, sex (includes gender, pregnancy and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, age (18 or older), disability, religion, marital status, family relationship, or association with a member of a protected class. Federal laws further prohibit discrimination… Read More
Wal-Mart Fires Assistant Manager for Facebook Post
A recent story from New York raises many employment issues that hit home in Washington. A Hamburg, New York Wal-Mart assistant manager posted an anti-Muslim comment and picture on his Facebook page that got him fired. The man claims that it started off as a joke and then it went wrong. He posted a picture… Read More
Shutdowns, Layoffs, and Unemployment Benefits
While the federal government has moved beyond its most recent shutdown and Hanford employees avoided getting their furlough notices, Huffington Post has reported that some 70,000 government workers filed for unemployment during the first week of the shutdown. Those who do receive the unemployment benefits will have to pay it back in full, but the… Read More
Undercover Cop Investigates Employer Abuse and Wage Theft
Imagine working 50, 60, 70 hours a week helping to construct a multimillion dollar, state-of-the-art public building one sheet of drywall at a time. Now imagine that you only receive six dollars an hour, are threatened by your employer, denied workers compensation for on the job injuries, and could be fired at any moment if… Read More
The New Retirement
There was a time when people could expect to retire at 65 and feel that their employer’s pension or retirement package would be enough to make retirement comfortable. There was a time when retirees would move to warm climates and golf daily. That was then, now retirement has become something new. Today retirees are suing… Read More
FMLA Abuse can bar Recovery for Retaliation
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows employees to take up to twelve weeks of leave per year for certain reasons without the fear of losing their jobs. The Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) provides further, similar protections for employees within the state. These reasons include: Serious health conditions that affects the employee’s ability… Read More
Lesser-Known Employee Civil Rights in Oregon
Employees in Oregon are protected under both federal and state laws from discrimination and harassment at work based on factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and many more characteristics. Furthermore, an employer may not discipline, demote, discharge, or otherwise retaliate against any employee who complains of unlawful discrimination or harassment. Most employees… Read More
Court says White Employee did not Suffer Discrimination
Earlier this fall, a court dismissed the widely publicized case against celebrity cook, Paula Deen, stating a white plaintiff who witnessed discrimination against black employees did not suffer discrimination herself. Now, another court has dismissed another discrimination claim brought by a white employee, though the circumstances in this case are different from the Deen case…. Read More
Wrongful Discharge Claims: Do Other Available Remedies Matter?
State public policies regarding wrongful discharge claims are—literally and figuratively—all over the map. For instance, in some states, an employee can sue for wrongful discharge under contract law if he or she can show an implied contract for permanent employment and improper or arbitrary termination. Other states disallow this type of claim. A recent hot… Read More