While the U.S. Supreme Court has a long history of supporting big business, on January 15, 2019 interstate truck driver contractors received their support. In an 8-0 decision, interstate truck drivers were found to be exempt from the mandatory arbitration clause typically associated with contractors.
VA whistleblower seeking protection from retaliation
Being disciplined or fired for exercising your rights as an employee is not only upsetting; it is illegal. This is called retaliation and there are strict state and federal laws in place that prohibit such behaviors.
City Council mulling measures to improve conditions in retail, fast-food sectors
There is no question that those men and women who work in the retail, fast-food or service industry often find it to be an exceedingly difficult way to earn a living owing to everything from inflexible hours and stagnant wages. Indeed, this struggle is perhaps even more pronounced in places like New York City, where the cost of living is always incredibly high.
What you should understand about workplace retaliation
While the labor laws here in New York provide workers with considerable protection against everything from wage and hour violations to workplace discrimination, the unfortunate reality is that they are often reluctant to take any action owing to a fear of reprisals.
Are you entitled to a meal break under state law?
Without a doubt, one of the highlights of any employee's workday, regardless of their chosen professional, is their meal break. That's because it's a time to not just satiate their appetite, but also catch up with co-workers, tend to personal matters or even just clear their minds of job-related stressors.
Do contractors have the same rights as employees? Part I
Contractors are typically hired by a company to work on a project for a relatively short period of time. Occasionally, however, a contractor can end up working for a company for months or even years. When that happens, the line between "contractor" and "employee" can easily become blurred. So before determining your employee rights, it is important to understand whether you are truly a contract worker or an actual employee.
How the Zika virus is contaminating workplace relationships
The Zika virus is currently wreaking havoc on a lot more than the upcoming summer Olympics, it's causing a lot of angst for companies who have an international clientele.
Decoding ERISA and healthcare
All jobs seem to come with an alphabet soup of acronyms: BCBS, COBRA, ERISA and many more. While some of these acronyms soon come to make complete sense to anyone working for the company, others require a little more explanation.
Caregivers offered new protection against discrimination
A maintenance worker worked for the same company for over 20 years. He consistently received positive reviews. After 25 years of solid performance, he was forced to take some time off to care for his aging father who was suffering from Alzheimer's. He was fired for failing to complete a sufficient amount of work. A top sales person at a separate company had a phone book thrown at her and was told to "find a pediatrician open after work" when she was forced to leave early one day to pick up her sick child from day care.
Uber suit settled, but categorization of drivers still an issue
New Yorkers are likely quite familiar with the Uber ride-sharing service. But what you may not realize if you are sitting in the back seat of an Uber or clicking through the app is that the driver you call on is at the center of a national discussion about employment categorization.
