Anti-discrimination laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) exist to help protect against various forms of discrimination, including employment discrimination. But who, exactly, is protected by anti-discrimination laws, and how do you take advantage of these laws if you have been discriminated against? Continue reading “Who is Protected by Anti-Discrimination Law?”
Author: Steven Mitchell Sack
Five Ways Employers Hide Workplace Discrimination
When people think of discrimination, they often think of blatant displays of sexist, racist, or otherwise bigoted behavior. However, not all forms of discrimination are so blatant, although they can have a dramatic impact on an employee’s ability to function and prosper in their workplace. Here are five common ways employers use to try to get away with workplace discrimination: Continue reading “Five Ways Employers Hide Workplace Discrimination”
What is Protected Activity Under the NLRA?
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees who engage in political activity for the purposes of labor organizing. However, not all kinds of political activity are considered a “protected activity” under the NLRA, meaning not all activities receive the same kind of legal consideration. So what constitutes a protected activity under the NLRA, and why does it matter whether an activity is considered protected or not? Continue reading “What is Protected Activity Under the NLRA?”
What is a Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA?
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all employers with 15 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations to employees with physical or psychological disabilities. For some employers, this can seem daunting, since they do not really understand what is required of them by the ADA. So, what exactly is a reasonable accommodation, and how do you know when you need to provide one? Continue reading “What is a Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA?”
What is a Protected Class?
Certain laws are meant to protect people against employment discrimination. When an employment discrimination case goes before the court, however, the court asks if the plaintiff was a member of a “protected class.” If they are not, they can have a much harder time winning their case. But what is a protected class, and why does it matter? Continue reading “What is a Protected Class?”
Five Potential Signs of Sex Discrimination
Sex discrimination is one of the most common kinds of discrimination faced by employees in the workplace, but it is also one that often takes a variety of different forms. While most people know to look for issues like non-consensual physical contact or the use of gendered slurs towards women, other sex discrimination issues can easily go unnoticed. Look for these five signs of potential sex discrimination at your workplace: Continue reading “Five Potential Signs of Sex Discrimination”
How Do You Form a Labor Union?
If you work for a business where you feel you do not receive sufficient income or benefits for the work you put in, you may be able to benefit from starting a labor union. However, many people are afraid of even trying to start a union and have no idea where to begin. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to begin the process of forming a labor union at your place of employment: Continue reading “How Do You Form a Labor Union?”
Ohio Supreme Court Upholds “Direct Observation” Drug Test
In a shocking twist that may be indicative of future developments, the Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the use of so-called “direct observation” drug tests by employers. This test is, in effect, a standard urine test used to detect the presence of drugs in a person’s system, except the employees are put under “direct observation” to make sure they did not swap out someone else’s urine. Employee rights advocates are outraged at the decision, which effectively makes it legal to watch an employee urinate when giving a sample for a drug test. Continue reading “Ohio Supreme Court Upholds “Direct Observation” Drug Test”
Five Potential Benefits of Forming a Labor Union
Unionization is an often-controversial subject, but also one with substantial practical implications. Many people reflexively oppose unionization precisely because of how politicized it can be, but for people working in certain jobs, a union can provide many potential benefits. Here are just five potential ways you can benefit from forming a labor union at your place of employment: Continue reading “Five Potential Benefits of Forming a Labor Union”
What Happens When an Employee is Misclassified?
Employee misclassification is a surprisingly widespread problem across many industries, and yet it is poorly understood by most workers. And yet, whether an employee is properly classified can have a massive impact on their taxes, income, and benefits. So, why is it that some employees are misclassified, and what can you do to deal with it? Continue reading “What Happens When an Employee is Misclassified?”
