Are you a cashier at a grocery store where self-checkouts are slowly taking over? A line worker at a manufacturing facility where automation is the new buzzword? A fast food worker where self-ordering kiosks are replacing your spot at the front of the line? It’s happening across more and more businesses in America. Your employer might be putting a positive spin on it. “You’ll spend less time serving people” or “no longer stuck on the [...]
People generally seek to avoid litigation due to its drain on their wallet, time, and emotions. Cases can be unpredictable. You won’t know the outcome until the judge or jury makes a decision. Because of its efficiency, alternative dispute resolution processes, such as mediation and arbitration, have become popular. However, before moving forward with any of these options, you should understand what each process entails. The Difference Between Arbitration and Mediation Mediation and arbitration are [...]
Every state in the U.S. offers unemployment benefits for employees who find themselves without a job through no fault of their own, but the rules to obtain these benefits differ from state to state. Here’s what you need to know about qualifying for unemployment compensation benefits in Connecticut. Who Is Eligible for Connecticut Unemployment Benefits? To be approved for unemployment benefits in Connecticut, you must meet three requirements. First, you must meet a minimum threshold [...]
What’s worse than being injured in an accident? How about your passenger being seriously injured or even suing you for personal injuries? Whether you’re the sole cause of the accident or it was the fault of two drivers, you can be held liable for his medical bills and emotional stress. So, what should you do in the case of an injured passenger? Start by following these simple steps. Stop the Vehicle You’ll want to pull [...]
SCOTUS Concludes Agency Fees Violate Workers’ First Amendment Rights With its recent decision in Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31, a majority of Supreme Court Justices ruled that “agency fee” laws in 22 states plus Washington, D.C. violate the First Amendment rights of public sector employees. Public sector unions may no longer require employees who choose not to join the union to pay “agency fees” to cover costs of negotiating contracts, processing grievances, and more. The [...]
In the United States, employment should be based on character traits and ability to complete the job as required. Unfortunately, there are still some employers with biases or prejudice against people who are different from them. Luckily, there are federal and state laws that combat this prejudice and make it illegal for employers to practice discrimination in their hiring practices. What Groups Are Protected? Employers in Connecticut are not allowed to eliminate job candidates based [...]
Last January, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that in 2016, there were over 84,000 workplace discrimination charges filed against employers across the nation. According to the data, 48.8% of all charges filed were for retaliation, followed by race discrimination (33.9%) and disability discrimination (31.9%). The EEOC subsequently obtained $398 million for these alleged victims through litigation and voluntary resolutions. That’s a lot of money - enough to alarm any business owner. But [...]
Most of us are used to taking time off for lunch or at least a rest break during the workday. This “off time” allows us to catch our breath, get something to eat, and re-energize for the rest of the workday. But did you know that mandatory meal or rest breaks vary from state to state? Federal Law and Breaks Many employees (and employers as well) would be surprised to know that under federal law, [...]
You recently disclosed a disability to your employer, one that requires you to take a slightly longer lunch break. Next thing you know, your position was eliminated, supposedly due to ‘restructuring’, but you see your company advertising the exact same job the next day. Chances are that you’ve been the target of workplace discrimination, which is illegal. Workplace discrimination takes many forms. What they all have in common is that people who belong to a [...]
Connecticut businesses and employers can face serious legal issues when a current or former employee files a retaliation claim against them. Legally defined, workplace retaliation is the act of taking adverse action against an employee because she complained about harassment or discrimination or reported alleged company wrongdoing to the proper authorities (an act known as whistleblowing). Examples of retaliation include: Firing the employee Demotion or denial of a promotion Reduction in pay and/or loss of [...]