Employees who work more than 40 hours are often paid at the rate of 1.5x their normal hourly rate for overtime. Instead of using the “time and a half” method, General Nutrition Centers (“GNC”) used the fluctuating workweek (“FWW”) method which was developed under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. It permits an employer to calculate an employee’s overtime pay by dividing the employee's total weekly pay by the number hours she actually worked during [...]
What is it? Workers’ Rehabilitation Service (“WRS”) is a service dedicated to ensuring an injured worker returns to gainful employment. It provides the tools necessary for the employee to obtain a position that is physically appropriate. The Rehabilitation Coordinators have a master’s degree in counseling, and at least 7 years of professional experience in the field of counseling to be considered for hire. They act as the injured worker’s personal advocate. Is this a good [...]
Your company has been laying off a lot of people in your department lately, but you’ve been hoping that due to seniority and a stellar record, it might keep you on. Today, however, is your turn. After quietly advising you that your employment has been terminated, your boss says that the company is offering you a severance package if you sign an agreement that includes, among other things, a release of legal claims (that you [...]
Per a recent report, approximately 14,000 distracted driving citations were issued in Connecticut during Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. Connecticut law prohibits motorists from operating a vehicle while using a mobile device. That includes making phone calls and sending/reading text or e-mail messages. Police presume that you’re making a call if the device is close to your ear. The penalties are $150, $300, and $500 for a first, second, or subsequent offense, respectively. Young [...]
A predetermination fact-finding telephone interview is scheduled shortly after the claim is filed. The parties have 21 calendar days from the date of the Administrator’s decision to file an appeal with the Appeals Division. The appeal can be filed in person at any American Job Center or Appeals Division office, by fax, internet or U.S. mail. The Appeals Division will assign a Referee and schedule a hearing for a future date. The hearings are typically [...]
This hypothetical scenario happens more often than you might think. Steve works in the human resources department for a large logistics company in New Haven. His boss hands him a pile of resumes and tells him to weed out those from young women, saying that the company doesn’t want to invest in someone who might soon go on maternity leave. When Steve complains about the company’s illegal practice of hiring based on an applicant’s age [...]
When you’ve just lost your job, signing that severance agreement on the desk in front of you is highly tempting. It likely offers a month’s salary (maybe even two or three) and an offer to pay your medical insurance until the end of the year. Before you sign, though, you need to consider what you’re giving away in exchange for the money and health coverage. Here are four primary things you need to watch out [...]
In an ideal world, everyone is judged on the basis of their character, and success is determined by genuine ability. Unfortunately, some people remain prejudiced against others who are of a different sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or similar trait, and that attitude can manifest itself in the form of employment discrimination. What is Employment Discrimination? Federal anti-discrimination laws describe a protected class as a group of people with a common characteristic, such as race [...]
Punitive damages and reasonable attorney’s fees are available in most types of employment cases. Punitive damages punish the defendant-employer. To recover these damages, you must prove that your employer acted “with malice or with reckless indifference.” In other words, the employer intentionally discriminated or retaliated against you. In 2008, a former FedEx employee received a punitive damages award of $100,000 because the employer denied his requests for an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. [...]
TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR PERSONAL INJURY CASES Mike Hovell is a tax accountant and credit repair specialist. He’s a founding member of Brooklyn Tax and Credit in Brooklyn, New York, where he focuses on business consulting and credit building, taxation, and consumer credit repair. For more information about Mr. Hovell and his company, visit his website at www.brooklyntaxandcredit.com or call him at (347) 560-3218. I recently caught up with Mr. Hovell to discuss important issues that [...]