WSNYC Blog: The Latest in Employment Law

In 2016, the wife of a Manhattan financier hired a nanny to care for her newborn. Upon discovering the race of the new nanny, she intended to send her husband a text saying “NOOOOOOOOOOO ANOTHER BLACK PERSON.” Lynsey Plasco-Flaxman, a mother of two, wrote this message upon meeting the new nanny, Giselle Maurice, for her first day at work. However, Plasco-Flaxman did not actually send this message to her husband. She accidentally sent the message to her nanny. Twice. Upon

In response to recent allegations of unfair employee treatment, Amazon said it will boost its minimum wage for all U.S. workers to $15 an hour starting in November. The decision affects more than 350,000 employees, as Amazon is one of the largest employers in the United States. Workers in customer service or operations, some of whom already make $15 an hour, will also get pay raises. A company spokesman predicted the wage increase will “have a profound impact on the

Geoffry Owens is known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on the Cosby show. Today, he works as a cashier at Trader Joe’s. Recently, a photo of Owens at work went viral. People mocked the former actor for taking this lower paying job. The Mail Online posted an article with the headline: “From learning lines to serving the long line!” Others found this article insulting because it job-shamed Owens. Those who disagreed with the article highlighted that Owens was simply

Recently, a group of former and current employees from Insomnia Cookies filed a class and collective action lawsuit against their employer. The company is known for delivering warm cookies and catering to students, many in New York City, who often order late at night. This group of employees alleges that the company has committed widespread mileage-related wage violations. These types of violations occur when a company requires an employee to use their personal car for work and they don’t reimburse them appropriately for driving-related expenses. According to the legal complaint, Insomnia Cookies

Many women and people of historically underrepresented groups are familiar with the glass ceiling: an invisible barrier that keeps a demographic from rising beyond a certain level in a profession. Mothers or expectant mothers face a second barrier, the maternal wall which is, unfortunately, becoming more common in the workplace. The maternal wall occurs when a woman becomes pregnant and is unfairly discriminated against at work. She may be denied a promotion, or a bonus, or her salary may lag behind

Increasing Wifi access has made it possible for people to work at all times, even when they are far away from the office. For example, many workers are now choosing to work during their commutes. Mobile devices allow people to receive and send work emails with ease outside of work hours. So, should work completed during a commute be considered paid working time? Recent studies and employment policies in other countries provide us with potential answers.

London Study

A research team

In New York City, an increasing number of unpaid wage lawsuits have been filed involving food preparation and delivery workers. This trend holds true for smaller restaurants and large chains alike. These workers, who are essential to the operation of a restaurant, often get skirted on overtime, tips, equipment costs, and more. Several high-profile cases demonstrate the severity and frequency of illegal violations against these workers.

Chop’t Creative Salad Company

Delivery and food preparation workers across New York City recently reached an

The Law Office of Christopher Q. Davis filed a collective and class action lawsuit against ASI System Integration and Technical Staffing Professionals on behalf of all Field Service Technicians in New York.  The Law Office of Christopher Q. Davis filed the complaint on August 3rd in New York’s Southern District.

The lawsuit alleges that ASI System Integration and Technical Staffing Professionals failed to

Serena Williams, once the top women’s tennis player in the world, recently alleged that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has discriminated against her. It’s no secret that professional sports players are randomly drug tested to ensure that no athlete has an unfair advantage due to performance-enhancing substances. However, ever since her return to tennis following the birth of her daughter, Alexis, Serena claims that USADA testers have shown up at her house at all times of the day. Serena has

Check out our infographic below to learn how you can request a reasonable accommodation in the workplace for a disability or illness: