Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Your Guide To The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)
Age discrimination in the workplace can take a wide range of different forms. One of the most underappreciated forms of age discrimination is the intentional targeting of older, more senior employees in layoffs and staff reductions. A federal law called the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) helps to provide important legal protections in… Read More »
DOL Releases Final Rule For Tipped Workers—Officially Withdraws 2020 Regulation
On October 28th, 2021, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced its final rule regarding the amount of time that tipped workers can spend in non-tipped activities. By doing so, the DOL officially withdrew a tipped worker final rule that was issued in the waning days of the Trump Administration. The new regulations… Read More »
DOL Secures More Than $46,000 In Back Pay For Florida Roofing Workers
On November 8th, 2021, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department or Labor (DOL) found that a North Florida roofing contractor must pay $46,302 in back pay to 29 employees who were improperly denied their full and fair wages for required pre-shift and post-shift work. Additionally, the employer was also cited for… Read More »
Florida Employer Will Pay $82,5000 To Resolve Sexual Harassment, Retaliation Lawsuit
On November 17th, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that it has reached a settlement of a sexual harassment/workplace retaliation employment lawsuit with an Orlando-based company. The company will pay $82,500 to resolve a same-sex sexual harassment claim. Here, you will find an overview of the settlement reached by the EEOC and… Read More »
Sex Discrimination Claim Against University Of Miami Set To Go To Trial
On October 6th, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published a press release confirming that a federal judge has denied a motion for summary judgment filed by the University of Miami. In doing so, the judge is allowing an employee’s sex-based discrimination claim to proceed to trial. In this article, you will find… Read More »
What To Know About Florida’s New Restrictions On COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates For Private Employers
On November 18, 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a pair of companion bills from the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida State Senate that require private employers to add new exemptions if they seek to have a vaccine mandate in place for its employees. In this article, you will find an overview… Read More »
Severance Pay: A Guide To Employee Rights In Florida
Leaving a job is never easy. Whether you are terminated, laid off, or resigning voluntarily, the transition period can be challenging. A severance package (severance agreement) can help to relieve some of the financial burden while transitioning to a new job. However, severance pay is not a guaranteed right under state or federal law…. Read More »
Pregnancy And Reasonable Accommodations: Know Your Rights In Florida
All employers should assess employees based on their qualifications—not on stereotypes. Workplace discrimination is unacceptable. Unfortunately, too many pregnant employees face discriminatory treatment from employers. Not only do many employers have a proactive duty to avoid pregnancy discrimination, they may be required to provide a reasonable accommodation. In this article, you will find a… Read More »
Wage And Hour Laws In Florida: What To Know About The State’s Paycheck Deduction Laws
Workers are the backbone of our economy. All employees must be paid fairly, in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws. This raises an important question: Can an employer deduct wages from an employee’s check in Florida? The answer is ‘yes’—as Florida has no dedicated state paycheck deduction law, employers must comply with… Read More »
Florida Wal-Mart Sued By The EEOC For Allowing Sexual Harassment
On September 21st, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a workplace sexual harassment lawsuit against Wal-Mart. According to the allegations raised by the federal agency, the company allowed a male employee of a Wal-Mart retail location in Walton County, Florida to sexually harass at least three female coworkers. In this article, you… Read More »