Religious Accommodations at Work: Recent Case Examples
Employees are entitled under Florida and federal law to reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs. Yet, many employees struggle to hold jobs that have rules or policies that conflict with their religion. Even seemingly minor issues, like a dress code exception, can quickly escalate into termination, throwing someone’s life into turmoil.
Who is GINA, and How Does She Protect Florida Workers?
GINA is not a person. GINA stands for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on genetic information. It applies to companies with 15 or more employees.
When most people think about workplace discrimination, they often think of race, gender,...
OSHA Retaliation: What Florida Workers Need to Know
Every worker has the right to a safe workplace. But what happens when a worker speaks up about safety problems, and their employer punishes them for it?
That is retaliation, and it is against the law. Unfortunately, many workers do not realize they only have 30 days to report...
OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program: Protecting Your Right to Speak Up
Employees are often the first to notice unsafe conditions, financial fraud, or threats to public health. Without legal protection, many workers would stay silent. Whistleblower laws encourage employees to speak up, which keeps workplaces safer, companies more accountable, and the public better protected.
OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces over...
The Hidden TRAP in Your Employment Contract: What Workers Need to Know About Repayment Agreements
Employers are increasingly using a new tactic to gain leverage over their workers: Training Repayment Agreement Provisions, or TRAPs. These contract terms require employees to repay their employer for costs such as training or other expenses if they leave their job.
TRAPs often demand large repayment amounts regardless of...
Constructive Discharge: When Quitting Counts as Being Fired
Most people think that quitting and being fired are two different things. However, in some situations, the law treats them the same, like when an employer makes conditions so unbearable that a reasonable person would feel compelled to resign. This is called constructive discharge, and it can transform a resignation into...
What Is Wage Theft?
Wage theft happens when workers are not paid fairly for all hours worked. Federal and state wage laws require employers to pay employees for every hour they work, including overtime, and to comply with minimum wage laws. Wage theft is one of the most common forms of workplace abuse, and it can...
What Is Employment Discrimination Based on Marital Status?
When most people think of workplace discrimination, they think of race, disability, gender, or age. But another form of discrimination prohibited under Florida law involves marital status. The Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against employees or applicants because they are single, married, divorced,...
What Is Discrimination Based on Color?
Most workers understand that employers cannot discriminate based on race. However, there is another, related but distinct form of discrimination that employees also experience: color discrimination.
Under federal and Florida law, it is unlawful for employers to treat employees or job applicants unfavorably because of “color”, which means the...
When Speaking Up Protects You.
Speaking up at work can be intimidating, especially if you are calling out harassment, discrimination, unsafe conditions, or unpaid wages. Many Florida workers fear losing their jobs if they report a problem because retaliation is real, and happens every day. But when your employer retaliates against you for blowing the whistle on...
