Are You an Employer or Employee?

A recent employment law case evaluated whether a doctor should be considered an employer or an employee. In the disability discrimination case, an anesthesiologist was identified as an employee based on her employment agreement. However, after working for two years, she was promoted and became a shareholder and a member of the board of directors.…

Read More

When Should Employees Be Paid For Pre- and Post-Shift Time?

This past week the United States Supreme Court heard argument on a potentially significant Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) case. The lawsuit, Staffing Solutions, Inc. v. Busk, involves whether employees who are required to stand in a security clearance line for their employer’s benefit must be compensated. Even though the case only concerns security checks,…

Read More

ADA Lawsuit Filed Against FedEx

Legal news reports that a federal discrimination lawsuit has just been filed against FedEx. The Americans with Disabilities Act claim asserts that FedEx discriminated against a large class of deaf and hard of hearing package handlers and job applicants for many years. Among the allegations include claims that the company failed to provide the workers…

Read More

Who Is an Employer or Employee Under the FLSA?

Determining who is your employer and conversely whether you are considered an “employee” are hot topics pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Pursuant to the FLSA, employers owe employees certain rights. These include the right to be paid at least minimum wage, and that all non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay at…

Read More

When Is Workplace Bullying Discrimination?

A recent article raised an interesting question – is “bullying” a new form of workplace discrimination? The article was premised on the idea that often harassing behaviors occur within the office setting but may not rise to level of what workers think constitutes actionable discriminatory conduct. However, while many companies and employees recognize that blatant…

Read More

Should You Be Receiving Overtime Pay?

A recent article in the New York Times looked at a complicated overtime pay issue – one that President Obama is seeking to simplify. The question is – who is entitled to overtime compensation? Under federal labor law – the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) – if you are a non-exempt hourly wage earner you…

Read More