Work Environment

The pandemic has brought about many shifts in our daily lives and it has affected people in different ways. While there is no doubt that Covid-19 has made a huge impact on the world, it has not changed the laws in place to protect workers at their jobs. Here are just some examples of how the law remains firm. Discrimination can be virtual While much of the workforce shifted their office to their homes at the beginning of the pandemic, many still remain working remotely. For those that are working out of the office, you are still protected from harassment or discrimination that takes place virtually. Inappropriate email chains, text messages, online chats, video calls, and phone calls can all [...]

While some workplaces have continued to do their essential business, others have remained completely closed, and some continue to work on a fully remote basis. With stay-at-home orders being lifted, many organizations are beginning to open their doors to the public for the first time, so what does that mean for business and how does that affect employees? Here are some things you should know about your rights at the workplace, while we continue to fight the Covid-19 pandemic together. Employers can require employees to wear PPE During a pandemic, employees can be required to wear PPE at work such as masks, gowns, or gloves that are designed to protect employees from a Covid-19 infection. In addition, an employee with [...]

The spotlight is often on discriminatory actions or harassment claims, but what about the unlawful repercussions of speaking up? It is against the law for an employer to retaliate against, or punish, an employee for making a discrimination or harassment claim, or for participating in an investigation at their place of work. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), “it is unlawful to retaliate against applicants or employees for: filing or being a witness in an EEO charge, complaint, investigation, or lawsuit communicating with a supervisor or manager about employment discrimination, including harassment answering questions during an employer investigation of alleged harassment refusing to follow orders that would result in discrimination resisting sexual advances, or intervening to protect [...]

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, if an applicant or employee is treated unfavorably due to pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, the treatment is classified as pregnancy discrimination. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act states that discrimination can include any aspect of employment such as hiring, firing, salary increase or decrease, job assignment, promotions, demotions, training, leave, and health insurance.   Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Impairments resulting from pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, may be classified as disabilities under the ADA. An employer may have to provide reasonable accommodation for a disability related to pregnancy such as leave or modifications so that the employee can complete their job.   Pregnancy discrimination [...]

6 examples of disability discrimination in the workplace The Americans with Disabilities Act protects you from being discriminated against due to a past, current, or perceived disability. Disability discrimination in the workplace is against the law but unfortunately, that doesn’t deter all violations. Here are 6 examples of disability discrimination and its presence in a work environment. Firing a candidate because of a disability Employers are not permitted to make any job-related decision based on a candidate’s or employee’s disability. This includes hiring decisions, promotions, terminations, and other related aspects of employment. If an employer doesn’t hire a qualified applicant due to a disability, decides to reassign the employee to a lesser role, or fire him or her because of [...]

A whistleblower is an individual that reports a person or organization that is violating laws or regulations or is a danger to public health and safety. State and federal laws offer protection to employees that stop or report acts prohibited by law or testify about unlawful conduct. Conduct Conduct that could be subject to whistleblowing includes breaking environmental laws corporate fraud in publicly traded companies violation of industry rules and regulations decision-making that endangers public health and safety gross waste of funds abuse of authority censorship of information that could cause any of the above Retaliation Laws are in place that protect whistleblowers from retaliation from employers. This includes but is not limited to firing, demotion, blacklisting, harassment, reduction in [...]