Verbal employment agreements – including those pertaining to wages – are legal and valid. However, they can be tough to prove, which is why it’s always better to get those facts in writing. Failure to do so may result in an a greater uphill battle in court, though they may…
Although sexual identity is not explicitly protected on the federal level for public employees, California law does provide protection, as do some local-level policies. LGBT employees have the right to enjoy a harassment-free, discrimination-free work environment. In the recent case of Flood v. Bank of Am. Corp., before the U.S.…
The Hawaii Supreme Court has reversed a summary judgment favoring a company accused of age discrimination in hiring, finding the company failed to meet the necessary burden to prove it should prevail as a matter of law. The 59-year-old plaintiff who had decades of experience in sales was turned down…
A U.S. District judge in northern California has not objected to a $415 million settlement, following allegations several large technology firms conspired in a wage-fixing scheme that held salaries down for many workers. Previously, that same judge had rejected a $325 million proposed settlement, saying it was far too low.…
Most employers are aware of the fact that legally, they can’t specifically recruit workers under the age of 30 or fire a worker simply because he or she hit the 55-year mark. But usually, age discrimination comes in much more subtle ways. One such example is job advertisements that request…
The Chicago Public School System recently came under fire after it was alleged a number of teachers were fired on the basis of their pregnancies. A federal discrimination lawsuit has been filed. The district staunchly denies this assertion, insisting the teachers were let go as a result of performance ratings,…
Wage theft is a serious problem within many varying industries. It’s worth noting there is an overall increase in wage-and-hour lawsuits, due to a combination of factors that includes workers becoming more aware of their rights, more active state and federal regulators and advanced technology that allows employees to conduct…
A California labor lawsuit has been filed by a former Wal-Mart pharmacist on behalf of all pharmacists working for the retailer, alleging missed breaks and unpaid overtime. Plaintiff in Nikmanesh v. Wal-Mart worked for the company for more than a decade, from 2003 through 2014. He alleges that in addition…
Truckers have a tough job, working long hours, traveling long distances and navigating tough terrain with heavy machinery. The job can be made even more difficult when bosses engage in racial discrimination. Yet time and again, we hear about trucking companies discriminating against their workers on the basis of race.…
A high-profile gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit is underway in Silicon Valley, with one of the area’s oldest venture capital firms in the center of the storm. In her complaint, Ellen Pao claims she was subjected to five years of retaliation after she refused sexual advances from several of the…