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...
Your Rights During the Hiring Process: What Florida Employees Should Know
Many workers do not realize that they have legal rights even before they are hired. Both federal and Florida law protect job applicants against certain unfair or discriminatory hiring practices. Here is what Florida workers need to know to protect themselves during the job search process.
Job Applicants...Religious Accommodations at Work: What Employees Need to Know
If your religious beliefs or practices affect your work schedule, dress or grooming requirements, or other workplace policies, you may have the right to ask your employer for a reasonable accommodation to allow the religious belief, observance or practice as an exception to the rule.
Once you raise the...
Workplace Surveillance in Florida: What Are Your Privacy Rights?
Modern surveillance technology has made it easier than ever for employers to monitor their workers, both in the office and at home. From tracking keystrokes and logging mouse activity to watching through webcams or collecting GPS data from work-issued devices, surveillance is now a regular feature of many jobs. As workplace surveillance...
Understanding Modern Labor Trafficking
Labor trafficking is a serious and often overlooked form of human trafficking that occurs when individuals are compelled to work...
The Hidden Cost of Being Called an “Independent Contractor”
For employers, hiring a workforce of independent contractors rather than employees is a profitable shortcut. For workers, it often means losing out on critical rights, protections and benefits.
What Do Employees Get That Independent Contractors Do Not?Employees are entitled to important rights under state...
