This blog has on previous occasions mentioned that several laws protect Minnesota workers from adverse action should they decide to report law violations to authorities. These so-called whistleblower laws are enacted at both the state and federal levels.
Review of Minnesota's whistleblower statute
Get to know sexual harassment and report it when you see it
Sexual harassment is something no one wants to deal with in the workplace. It is unlawful to harass a person because of their gender or sex. Interestingly, harassment doesn't have to be physical. It can be verbal as well. On top of that, harassment doesn't have to be particularly sexual at all. It might also include comments about a person's sex, like harassing men or women by making broad, offensive comments about them.
Retaliation accusations surround DHS coordinator's firing
While private industries in Minnesota and across the nation are confronted with allegations of employment law violations, it can happen with federal and state agencies too. If an employee believes he or she was subjected to wrongdoing at the hands of employers, it is important to know what steps to take to recover compensation for that mistreatment and illegal behaviors. Understanding how to move forward with a case in which there were allegations of discrimination, retaliation and more requires legal advice.
Minnesota DHS worker files wrongful termination claim
An employee at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of the Inspector General is claiming he faced retaliation in the workplace, which ultimately lead to his termination, for blowing the whistle on racial bias in the enforcement division of the DHS. Ironically, the man's position in the agency was equity coordinator. He has since filed charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) based on discrimination and wrongful termination.
Mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment claims under scrutiny
Many Minnesotans may know of the conglomerate Ernst & Young, which is identified as one of the "Big Four" accounting firms in the nation. However, the company is coming under scrutiny for its mandatory arbitration policy. The issue came to the forefront after a female employee of the accounting giant came forward with a sexual harassment claim.
Can allegations of misconduct affect unemployment compensation?
Losing a job in Minnesota can be a worrisome experience. Regardless of the reason for job loss, people can be fearful as to how they will make ends meet and what steps they must take to get back to the workforce. Unemployment compensation is a part of employee rights and can be a lifeline for people to stay above water as they seek a new job. However, a common problem many face is if the employer claims the former employee committed misconduct. This can prevent the worker from getting the unemployment benefits he or she would otherwise been entitled.
Is the ADA's prohibition on disability discrimination absolute?
Those in Minneapolis who are hunting for a job may face a long road ahead of them. Sometimes it takes many job applications and several interviews before a person lands the job they've been looking for. Those who have a disability may be fearful that they won't be hired due to their disability. However, per the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), employers cannot engage in disability discrimination against qualified job applicants with a disability.
Wage discrimination a major issue in professional sports
When the U.S. women's national soccer team won the World Cup, the fact that they were paid significantly less than the U.S. men's national soccer team, despite having a better record of wins, came to the forefront of the country's attention. The team has since filed a gender discrimination claim against the U.S. Soccer Federation. The claim is currently being mediated. However, even female athletes in Minnesota are experiencing employment discrimination based on gender and unequal wages.
