Archive for November 29, 2017

If you voluntarily resign from a position or face termination, it is likely a time for caution. Many employers offer severance packages that come with strict conditions. Some of these may even be illegal.

Your employer cannot force you to waive rights granted by federal law in a severance agreement, and that includes financial incentives for whistleblowing. Employees should not be forced to choose between a generous severance package and acting within the law, especially when violations threaten public interest. Here

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) offers options when you face health challenges or those of an elderly parent or child. It recently arose as an issue with natural disasters, since employees may need time off to help a relative evacuate hurricanes or wildfires–or manage their health limitations during these disasters.

When you are facing these challenges, you rely on FMLA to grant flexibility without risking your job security. Returning from leave only to find you are terminated is a stressful

Illegal employment practices in New York may arise unintentionally or from an ill-conceived plan to save money. Employees often tolerate these practices for years before discovering they were denied fair pay and equal treatment. Here are five common practices by employers that may be actionable under state and federal law.

Unpaid Wages

The most common form of unpaid wages is failure to pay overtime. Employers may ask workers to clock out and put in extra hours or calculate overtime pay

New York is unique in its requirements for employers. While the law does not make it mandatory to provide health insurance or paid sick leave, employers must provide workers’ compensation coverage, disability benefits, and, starting in 2018, paid family leave. Here is an explanation of these benefits and what to do if your employer does not follow through on them.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation insurance covers employees when they suffer injuries or illnesses from work-related conditions. It includes medical costs, lost wages,

Under federal and state law, you have certain remedies if your employer discriminates against you. These lawsuits are burdensome and expensive for employers, and the prospect of such a suit often leads an employer to commit another transgression–retaliation.

Sometimes, retaliation is obvious, like being terminated after making a complaint. Other times, it can be very subtle with a change in hours or pay. The bottom line is that retaliation is illegal and the law protects you from it.

What is Retaliation?

Retaliation is