Thinking of raising a complaint to your Human Resources representative?  First, read these Dos and Don’ts from an employment law attorney. 1. DO read this article: “HR Is Not Your Friend: Here’s Why.” In representing clients in gender discrimination claims and pregnancy discrimination claims, I have learned that many employees think HR is there for […]

Although many employees describe what they face at work as a “hostile work environment,” frequently what they are experiencing or observing is evidence of another type of workplace discrimination. It is therefore important for employees who believe they are experiencing discrimination in the workplace—and the lawyers who represent them—to look closely and carefully at all […]

The longest federal shutdown in U.S. history is having devastating effects, placing hundreds of thousands of federal workers in economic peril and potentially crippling the delivery of basic services for Native American tribes. It has also shut down the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), delaying Americans from receiving justice where their employers have illegally […]

Over the past few years, there has been a movement to restrict employers from inquiring into the salary histories of prospective employees. The rationale for this prohibition is clear: certain jobs and workers have historically been underappreciated and underpaid; consequently, workers in these jobs are anchored to lower starting salaries. If employers can ask about […]

Thinking of reaching out to an employment attorney? It is likely that the attorney, or someone in the attorney’s office, will want to conduct an intake with you to learn about your situation. Here are a few Dos and Don’ts that you may find helpful. 1. DO tell them why you called. Are you looking […]

In today’s political climate, we have all seen how heated political debates can get. A perfectly pleasant Thanksgiving dinner with family can instantly turn hostile once the topic of politics comes up. But what happens when that political fervor carries over into the workplace? Can a private sector employee be fired for his or her […]

On May 9, 2018, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio signed the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act (the “Act”), amending the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”) to proactively combat sexual harassment in the workplace. The Act, passed by the New York City Council in the wake of the #MeToo movement, creates new […]

The Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act takes effect on July 1, 2018, giving New Jersey one of the strongest equal pay laws in the country and permitting plaintiffs in employment discrimination cases to recover substantial damages. The Act is not limited to gender, but protects all employees from pay discrimination based on that individual’s […]

Law 360 recently reported that two law firms are revamping their performance evaluation process for associate attorneys by replacing formal annual reviews with more informal, frequent performance assessments. Law360 also reported that other BigLaw firms are likely to follow suit. Law firms that have initiated these changes explain that more frequent, timely feedback on performance […]

As part of the national trend to pass state and local laws guaranteeing private-sector workers paid leave for family and caregiving responsibilities, Washington D.C. is poised to join California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington state in offering this benefit. And I’m not alone in saying: it’s about time. A study conducted by […]