Are you an “exempt employee” who isn’t entitled to overtime no matter how many hours you put in behind the desk? Well, that may soon change. If the United States Department of Labor (DOL) has its way, the path to overtime may become available for a whole…
One of the biggest social taboos at work is discussing your rate of pay with your co-workers — and that suits your employer just fine. In fact, many employers have openly discouraged employees from discussing their wages with each other — despite the fact that it’s illegal…
Mental health issues are very common. However, many people still don’t realize that their mental health conditions are entitled to the same workplace protections that physical disabilities are accorded through the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has…
Imagine this: You’re pregnant. The law — and your employee handbook — guarantee you at least three 10-minute breaks during your shift. To take your break to go to the bathroom, you have to call your supervisor over and let them know that you need to leave,…
Most people only have a vague idea of what rights they have as employees. Young people, especially, often lack the experience to know when they’re being cheated or abused by an employer. However, even older workers can be taken advantage of — especially if they’re from poor…
Braids, dreadlocks, Bantu knots, twists, fades and Afros have long been associated with men and women of color — and generally discouraged in many workplaces (if not outright banned). For decades, professional men and women of color have had to subject their hair to harsh chemical straighteners…
You’ve just been wrongfully fired and you’re quite naturally livid about the whole thing. You know that you’re experiencing unfair treatment and outright discrimination, and you’re humiliated and upset. Take a deep breath. You need to do everything in your power to control your emotions right now…
Does Disney discriminate against its women workers? A lawsuit recently filed in Los Angeles County claims that the entertainment giant pays its female employees less than it does males for the same work. The lawsuit is the latest splash in the news about income disparity among the…
Most employers are perfectly aware that they need to pay their employees overtime when those employees work more than 40 hours in a week — but some still try to skirt the law to save a few bucks. How do they do that and avoid being reported…
Sexual harassment in the workplace is no longer something that people simply have to quietly endure — it’s now a subject of intense scrutiny. California, in particular, seems to have had a wake-up call when it comes to how problematic sexual harassment really is in the workforce…
