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What Legal Protections Are There for Pregnant Employees?

Being pregnant while working can add several stressors to your life, but you do not want one of those to be job security. Our nation and states have many laws in place to protect pregnant and postpartum employees, ensuring that they are safe in their roles and providing the appropriate accommodations to get their work done as normal. So, let’s discuss what legal protections there are for pregnant employees in the workforce. Your Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for events such as the birth of a child, adoption, foster care, or the care of a pregnant spouse. If a pregnant [...]

By | 2024-11-14T09:36:13-06:00 November 14th, 2024|Employee Rights|Comments Off on What Legal Protections Are There for Pregnant Employees?
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Can You Be Legally Detained by a Store’s Security Guard?

We have all seen media depicting a security guard patrolling around the mall or a jewelry store, or we have probably seen one in real life. Like any personnel enforcing the law, security guards are there to protect and serve, ensuring the safety and security of the business they work for. However, how much power do they actually have? If someone were to shoplift from a store, what can a security guard really do? Well, it might be more than you think. Remember, a Store Security Guard Is Not the Police Security guards are not police or law enforcement. They must not do anything to impersonate the police. They are contracted through an individual or business, meaning that while they [...]

By | 2024-09-16T08:15:01-05:00 September 16th, 2024|Criminal Law|Comments Off on Can You Be Legally Detained by a Store’s Security Guard?
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Shoplifting vs. Theft vs. Burglary

Shoplifting, theft, burglary, robbery, and stealing are all the same thing at the end of the day, right? Wrong. Each of them is considered their own crime in Missouri and nationally. That being said, it can be essential to understand the differences in case a situation arises where you are being accused or facing a court date because of one. What Is Shoplifting? Shoplifting in Missouri is simply a form of stealing, and can be a charge anywhere from a Class D Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony, depending on the value of the items allegedly stolen. Missouri classifies shoplifting/stealing under four general categories: refusing to pay for goods or services, paying for goods or services with a bad check, [...]

By | 2024-09-16T08:15:09-05:00 August 8th, 2024|Criminal Law|Comments Off on Shoplifting vs. Theft vs. Burglary
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Do You Need Car Insurance to Drive Legally?

Car insurance is there not only to protect you but to protect the drivers around you. It offers payment for any vehicle damages or medical costs and can prevent you from paying out of pocket for any accidents. Only two states in the country do not require car insurance, and Missouri is not one of them. In Missouri, car insurance is legally required when you register your vehicle or renew your license plates. Yes, Missouri Citizens Do Require Car Insurance Under Missouri law, drivers are required to have some type of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage and maintain it throughout their years as a driver. Whether registering your car or being pulled over, you must show proof of your insurance. [...]

By | 2024-06-06T11:24:55-05:00 June 6th, 2024|Public Policy|Comments Off on Do You Need Car Insurance to Drive Legally?
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Age Discrimination: It Can Be Hard to Spot. Here Are the Signs

You might not be ready to hang up your cape just yet, but the people around you might think differently. Age discrimination is becoming a more significant issue as new generations are flocking to jobs and making up a higher percentage of workers in certain industries. Whether intentional or not, age discrimination can happen to anyone over 40 and can blindside anyone who is affected by it. Age is the one protected category that crosses all others – race/religion/national origin/ sex/disability/ethnicity. Everyone ages, and as we age, the likelihood of age discrimination grows increasingly likely. Couple that with a disability and/or stereotypes for certain industries, and an employee can suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory of struggling to hang on [...]

By | 2023-12-13T12:12:02-06:00 December 13th, 2023|Age Discrimination, Employee Rights|Comments Off on Age Discrimination: It Can Be Hard to Spot. Here Are the Signs
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Can Your Workplace Legally Stop You From Praying?

Today’s workplace is filled with people of all different backgrounds, which can lead to a melting pot of religions. Thankfully, we live in the United States of America, and our constitution has encouraged us to be welcoming to this for over 200 years. Because not everybody was welcoming, we started enacting laws more than 50 years ago to protect people from racism and discrimination in their place of work. No matter the religion or absence thereof, the United States and Missouri have laws employers must abide by to ensure employees (and employers) feel safe and accommodated. As noted, however, because workplaces have to be safe and welcoming for ALL religions and even those without a professed religion, employers have the [...]

By | 2023-11-15T07:29:39-06:00 November 15th, 2023|Employee Rights|Comments Off on Can Your Workplace Legally Stop You From Praying?
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Can You Be Charged With a Criminal Offense for Emotional Abuse?

While abuse is regularly seen as physical, emotional abuse can be just as dangerous, scarring, and illegal. It is important not to get emotional abuse mixed up with a simple spout you might have with your partner over who empties the dishwasher. If proper communication is done and it ends with both parties smiling and working together, it is easy to say that it was not an emotionally abusive situation. However, when certain lines are crossed, it could lead to emotional abuse and then a possible criminal offense. So, to keep yourself informed, no matter what side you are on, let’s better understand emotional abuse and its meaning. What Is Considered Emotional Abuse Emotional abuse is more than a small [...]

By | 2023-11-15T07:29:45-06:00 October 23rd, 2023|Criminal Law|Comments Off on Can You Be Charged With a Criminal Offense for Emotional Abuse?
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Workplace Myths: You Can’t Talk About Your Pay

Whether they started from workplace stigmas or controlling employers, many myths revolving around the workplace keep employees from being comfortable and open with their team members and managers. Today, we are going to focus on one of the most talked about myths within Missouri and the nation– Can you talk about your pay? The topic of pay continues to be a controversial one, but as we are more than halfway through 2023, things need to change. Employees are learning their worth and standing up for themselves now more than ever, and that should extend to the conversation of pay. False: It Is Completely Legal to Talk About Pay This myth is false. Employees are entirely within their rights to talk [...]

By | 2023-08-15T21:44:41-05:00 August 15th, 2023|Employee Rights, Work Environment|Comments Off on Workplace Myths: You Can’t Talk About Your Pay
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Break, Lunch, and Personal Time Laws in Missouri

As you take on a new job in Missouri, walk in prepared with knowledge of your rights as an employee. An essential part of our day is recharging throughout it, and we can only do that through breaks and lunch to eat, drink, and get some quick rest from our workload. Breaks are one of the most significant ways to get the best efficiency and productivity from our workers. The last thing any employer wants is burnt-out employees. But what is required through the state of Missouri? Understand your rights as an employee regarding your breaks, lunchtime, and personal time in Missouri. Understanding Missouri Break Laws It may come as a surprise, but Missouri has no legal mandate regarding breaks [...]

By | 2023-08-07T10:06:12-05:00 August 7th, 2023|Employee Rights, Work Environment|Comments Off on Break, Lunch, and Personal Time Laws in Missouri
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If You Are Traveling From Missouri to Kansas, Be Aware of These Marijuana Laws

Before taking your summer road trip, look at the laws within the states you will be visiting to ensure you are mindful of your rights. Many citizens travel back and forth between Kansas and Missouri for work or pleasure, and with these new laws in place, the last thing you want is to get caught up in the confusion. Recreational Marijuana Use in Missouri The newest law in Missouri was the legalization use of recreational marijuana. However, marijuana is still classified as an illegal substance federally. This means that any recreational use must stay within the confines of the state of Missouri. Even if you are to travel to a state that has also legalized marijuana, you are not allowed [...]

By | 2023-07-26T07:19:01-05:00 July 26th, 2023|Criminal Law|Comments Off on If You Are Traveling From Missouri to Kansas, Be Aware of These Marijuana Laws
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