Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Florida Senate Passes Temp Worker Law
On March 6th, 2026, the Florida Phoenix reported that the Florida Senate has unanimously passed a bill focused on helping temporary workers get full-time employment. The Florida House of Representatives has yet to take up the legislation. Still, it has clear bipartisan support. In this article, you will find an overview of the bill… Read More »
EEOC Recovers $135,000 for Two Employees in Florida in Separate Cases Under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
On December 29th, 2025, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced the recovery of approximately $135,000 in financial compensation for two women in Florida whose rights were violated under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The federal law is designed to ensure that pregnant women have access to fair and equitable opportunities in the… Read More »
Orlando Chain Restaurant Location Will Pay $200,000 in Sexual Harassment/Retaliation Claim
On January 6th, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that a Orlando-based franchise location of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) will pay $200,000 in order to settle a workplace sexual harassment claim. Notably, there were also allegations of unlawful retaliation against the worker who brought the complaint. In this article, you will find… Read More »
How Do You Actually Prove You Were Retaliated Against By an Employer?
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines retaliation as any form of adverse action that happens because an employee engaged in protected activity. Of course, employers rarely openly admit that they are engaged in unlawful retaliation. This raises an important question: How do you actually prove that you were retaliated against by an… Read More »
Presented With an Employment Contract? A Lawyer Should Review
Florida is an at-will employment state. The relationship between an employer and an employee is voluntary. Either party may terminate it any time and for any reason, unless there is an employment contract that states otherwise. If you have been presented with an employment agreement, it should be reviewed by a lawyer. In this… Read More »
Florida Employer Settles Disability Discrimination Case for $50,000
On January 13th, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) confirmed that a Motel Six location in Florida has agreed to pay $50,000 to a former employee in order to resolve a disability discrimination lawsuit. The company allegedly constructively discharged a disabled worker at one of its Lakeland-area hotels. In this article, you will… Read More »
An Overview of the DOL’s Most Recent Tip Pooling Guidance
On September 30th, 2025, the United States Department of Labor released guidance on specific issues related to tip pooling by employers. The matter in question involved front-house oyster shuckers at a restaurant. In this article, you will find an overview of the issue, the DOL’s guidance, and the implications for tip pooling more broadly… Read More »
Candidate for Attorney General Calls Wage Theft a Crisis in Florida
According to a report from WLRN, a Florida candidate for Attorney General is calling wage theft a “crisis” in the state that requires far more attention from authorities. José Javier Rodríguez (Democrat) rallied with worker rights advocates and emphasized his view that more needs to be done to address the fact that employees are… Read More »
Are Employers in Florida Required to Keep Sensitive Employee Data Confidential?
Employers often have a lot of sensitive information about job applicants and employees, including things like phone numbers, addresses, Social Security numbers (SSNs), and even medical records. This raises an important question: Are employers required to keep sensitive employee data confidential? The answer is “yes.” In this article, you will find an overview of… Read More »
Florida is Now an Open-Carry State (What Does that Mean for Employers)
Recently, a Florida appeals court struck down a law that barred open-carry in the state (McDaniels v. State of Florida). State leaders have already indicated that they do not plan to appeal. As such, the case is effectively over and will not go to the Florida Supreme Court. Employers may want to consider reviewing… Read More »