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In Ohio and across the United States, wage theft is a multi-billion-dollar issue. According to the Economic Policy Institute, wage law violations may cost employees up to $50 billion a year – but the actual number is incredibly hard to pin down because so many cases of wage theft go unreported and uninvestigated. If your…

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its guidance on workplace harassment for the first time in 25 years following a Supreme Court ruling that anti-bias laws protect LGBTQ workers. The guidance notes that refusing to use transgender workers’ preferred pronouns and denying them access to bathrooms for their gender identity is a form…

Federal lawmakers are seeking to repeal rule protecting workers As we’ve previously covered, the U.S. Department of Labor has been seeking for years to reform the rules governing misclassification of employees as independent contractors. That rule went into effect last month, and federal lawmakers immediately fired back. On March 21, the House Education and Workforce…

The American workforce is getting older, and unfortunately, that hasn’t brought about the end of age discrimination in employment. AARP survey reveals an alarming trend According to a series of surveys conducted by AARP, about two-thirds of adults over 50 believe older workers face discrimination in the workplace. And that belief is well-founded: according to…

If your civil rights have been violated, you may have recourse. Racial discrimination in hiring is a persistent problem that affects the careers and lives of people of color in Ohio and nationwide. Federal law prohibits employers from taking race into account in hiring decisions, but racial discrimination is often subtle and goes undetected. Unfortunately,…

Despite increased attention and accountability in recent years, workplace sexual harassment remains a pervasive and often underreported problem. In particular, in the medical field, a new study reveals that nearly two-thirds of medical interns have experienced sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is illegal under both federal and state law, but those laws aren’t self-executing. You need…

You deserve to be properly paid for all hours worked For many employees in Ohio and across the nation, the holiday season is also the busy season. Workers in retail, logistics, and related industries often have to work overtime to meet the increased consumer demand. Additional hours should, of course, lead to bigger paychecks, but…

Federal board rules that employee advocacy for non-employees is protected. American workers have long had the legal right to collectively advocate for themselves on labor law matters, such as better pay and working conditions. However, there have often been disputes on just how far that right to concerted action extends. In a win for employees,…

The past several years have seen numerous legal and practical changes in the area of workplace harassment. The federal agency that investigates harassment claims is now proposing new guidance to clarify employees’ rights and employers’ responsibilities. Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced new proposed guidelines for employers regarding illegal workplace harassment. The…

A proposed Department of Labor (DOL) rule could dramatically impact the number of workers who currently qualify as exempt employees, if it goes into effect as planned. The federal agency announced on August 30 a proposed rulemaking that would raise the salary threshold to qualify for the “white-collar exemption” from $684 to $1,059 weekly, or…