Topics: Your Job & The Law - 1475 results

In today’s tough employment market, many job hunters would welcome any paying offer of work. But if you’re one of the millions of American workers who’ve entered the world of freelance or contract work status in recent years, you should know about the risks you are taking on. From 2005 to 2010, 4 million U.S. workers became independent contractors, according to Economic Modeling Specialists Inc., a company that analyzes federal employment data. These contractors range from full-time software developers who …

The U.S. Supreme Court may rule that state governments can fire their workers just for calling in sick. The Family and Medical Leave Act says employers have to allow workers to take unpaid time off if they’re ill or pregnant, or have to take care of a sick relative. But the State of Maryland fired a court administrator for following doctors’ orders, and now the state is heading to the U.S. Supreme Court to argue that government workers may not …

A 34-year old California woman received one of the largest punitive damages awards ever – $65 million – after a jury ruled in her favor in the sexual harassment suit she brought against Encino-Tarzana Regional Hospital, alleging a sexual abuse incident while she was in the hospital.  After only about an hour of deliberations, the jury ruled in favor of Courtney Rosenberg and against the hospital, agreeing that she was abused by a male nursing assistant who had been previously reported …

Ruling that religious organizations have the right to hire and fire employees who perform religious duties based on any criteria they choose, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld an appellate court decision in a case involving Cheryl Perich, a teacher at Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Redford, MI, who was fired after she received a narcolepsy diagnosis. Perich, who taught religious as well as secular classes and periodically led chapel services, argued that the church’s action …

Imperial Security, Inc., a Philadelphia security firm, recently signed a consent decree with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle a case involving discrimination against a Muslim worker. Imperial Security hired Julie Holloway-Russell, a Muslim who wore a khimar headscarf covering her hair, ears, and neck to her job interview to become one of the company’s security guards. After landing the job, Ms. Holloway-Russell wore the khimar when reporting for her first work assignment. She was told to remove the …