Whether you are an employer or an employee, it’s important to stay up-to-date on developments in employment law to protect your rights in the workplace. Our blog highlights the most relevant news, bills, lawsuits, and “how-tos” of employment law for working professionals. Our blog also includes our firm’s most recent news.
27
August
Three Former Kraft Heinz Factory Workers File $30 Million Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
Three black former factory workers filed a $30 million lawsuit against Kraft Heinz (KHC) for repeated threats and racial discrimination from their coworkers and supervisors. According to a CNN Business article, the lawsuit was filed in the US Eastern District Court of California last week by Alex Horn, Lance Aytman, and Keith Hooker. The plaintiffs claim that they, and other black employees at the factory based in Tulare, California, have been victims of racial threats, derogatory remarks, and ongoing harassment
25
August
Wednesday Worklaw Alert: Should I Sign My Severance Agreement?
First of all, what is a severance agreement? A severance agreement is a contract between you and your employer that outlines each of your responsibilities and rights when you are terminated from your job. Sometimes, the wording of severance agreements can benefit the employer at the cost of the employee. An employment lawyer can assist in reviewing your severance agreement and, if necessary, negotiate the terms with your employer to ensure you know your rights and are maximizing your benefits.
What
23
August
FDA Approves Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine
On August 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. This licensing could help increase inoculation rates and is likely to encourage the already growing wave of vaccine mandates by employers and universities.
Vaccine Milestones
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first licensed vaccine for coronavirus. This means that the vaccine has been approved for use outside of emergency use authorization. Rebranded Comirnaty, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved for two doses, three weeks apart, for
20
August
Disability Case Against Walmart Results in Woman Receiving 125 Million Dollars
Marlo Spaeth and her sister
Marlo Spaeth, who has down syndrome, worked for Walmart in Wisconsin for 16 years. She consistently received positive performance reviews from management. Walmart decided to elongate Spaeth’s usual shift despite her disability. Spaeth later requested an accommodation for her disability. She asked to leave 60 to 90 minutes early from the shift. Ms. Spaeth was denied the accommodation.Walmart fired Marlo Spaeth in 2015 due to her disability. Spaeth’s sister reports that Marlo was devastated
18
August
Wednesday Worklaw Alert: Google May Cut Pay of Employees who Work from Home
As offices and workplaces across the country reopen, many employees are wondering whether they have the option to continue working from home. Recently, Google announced that employees in the US who choose to work from home may receive a permanent pay cut. The company designed a “pay calculator” that shows employees the effect that working from home or changing offices will have on their pay. A Google spokesperson said, “Our compensation packages have always been determined by location, and we
17
August
16
August
Tesla Pays A Former Employee $1 Million after Battling a Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
A former Tesla employee won $1 million from a ruling that found his supervisors guilty of using racial slurs towards him. According to a recent Bloomberg article, Melvin Berry began working for the Tesla office in Alameda, California back in 2015 as a materials handler and left the company after just18 months. Berry is one of the many employees who have filed complaints of racial targeting at the company. The results of his case finally put an end to the
