Discrimination in the workplace based solely on an employee’s disability is against both federal and state law. Any company within the state of Oregon that has six or more employees must comply with Oregon Revised Statutes 659A.100-145, which regulate the civil rights of disabled persons and prohibit discrimination against disabled persons in the employment realm…. 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.
Federal Child Labor Laws Draw Criticism
The United States Department of Labor recently fined several grocery store chains in the Midwest more than $130,000 for various violations of child labor laws. While child labor violations may sound serious, in reality the stores were not putting the young employees in harm’s way and no kids were abused or injured in the course… Read More
New Labor Laws in Oregon
The Oregon legislature has passed several new employment measures in 2013, most of which will take effect on January 1, 2014. Many of the new laws provide additional rights and protections for Oregon employees, which demonstrates a positive pro-employee trend among the legislators. Employees throughout the state should familiarize themselves with the new laws to… Read More
Protections for Oregon Employees who Suffer Domestic Violence
The unfortunate reality is that anyone can become a victim of illegal acts such as domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking. Victims of these crimes may requirement several different kinds of assistance from medical doctors, therapists or psychiatrists, law enforcement, etc. Working with law enforcement and prosecutors and ultimately serving as a witness to… 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
Portland Town Looks to D.C. for Minimum Wage Laws
We recently discussed federal and state minimum wage issues in a blog post highlighting McDonald’s somewhat out-of-touch proposed budget for its minimum wage employees. “Big box” retailers have long been the subject of criticism for paying their workers particularly low wages, drawing displeasure from observers who claim that the companies fail to pay their employees… Read More
Oregon Age Discrimination
Discrimination is a pervasive problem in the United States today, affecting millions of employees every year. Both state and federal law protect workers from certain kinds of discrimination. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex or national origin. When it comes to age,… 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
Target's "Diversity Memo" Leads to Discrimination Lawsuit
Three former employees at Target have filed a workplace discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the company, according to an article in the Seattle P-I. The lawsuit stems in part from a “Multi-Cultural Tips” memo that included many racial and national origin stereotypes about people of Hispanic descent. Target states that the memo was only used… Read More
Am I Entitled to Overtime Pay?
Many employers are under the mistaken belief that simply because an employee is salaried, they are not entitled to overtime pay. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as well as any applicable laws in your jurisdiction, regulate issues such as minimum wage, overtime, record keeping, and child labor. When certain employees work in excess… Read More