Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Florida Employer Pays $304,466 In Back Wages To Resolve Special Wage Rate Violations
On August 24th, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that Sunland Center—a state-funded agency for persons with disabilities operating in Jackson County, Florida—will pay $304,466 to 163 different workers. The DOL determined that the employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by paying employees a sub-minimum wage and not offering the support… Read More »
Florida Is A ‘Right-To-Work’ State: Here Is What That Means
As reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), there are 27 ‘right-to-work’ states in the United States. Florida is a ‘right-to-work’ state. In fact, Florida is one of the country’s first ‘right-to-work’ states—adopting the law back in 1943. There are plenty of myths and misconceptions about exactly what this means for an… Read More »
DOL: $162,310 In Back Overtime Pay Recovered For Restaurant Workers In Key West, FL
On June 3rd, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a public statement confirming that three Key West, Florida restaurants—Little Pearl, Thirsty Mermaid, and Antonia’s Key West—have been cited for unpaid overtime violations. In total, the federal agency reports that it collected more than $160,000 in back overtime pay on behalf of nearly four… Read More »
Can A Florida Employer Discriminate Against LGBTQ Workers Based On Customer Preference?
Last June, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark ruling in Bostock v. Clayton Cty., Georgia. In the decision, the court’s majority clarified that LGBTQ workers are already protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Discrimination on the basis of LGBTQ status is a form of sex discrimination. You… Read More »
Miami EEOC Office Hosts Event Highlighting COVID-19 And Impact On Asian-American Employees
Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) hosted a free event to bring attention to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Asian-American community across the country—particularly in regards to “violence, harassment and acts of bias against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).” The event was held in Miami, FL… Read More »
EEOC Files Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against UPS, Alleges Jacksonville, FL Employee Was Unlawfully Terminated
On June 30th, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published a news release confirming that the agency has filed a disability discrimination lawsuit against UPS on behalf of an employee based in Jacksonville, Florida. The federal agency alleges that the man was wrongfully fired due to his disability status. Below, you will find… Read More »
Am I Legally Required To Give Two Weeks’ Notice In Florida?
You have probably heard that it is common courtesy to give at least two weeks’ notice before quitting a job. By giving an employer plenty of notice you can help to preserve a positive relationship. Of course, giving two weeks’ notice is not necessarily possible or practical in every situation. You may be wondering:… Read More »
Can An Employer Require Employees To Get Vaccinated In Florida?
According to the Florida Department of Health, approximately 55 percent of residents in Florida have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Federal and state officials report that everyone who is 12 years of age or older is now eligible to get vaccinated. Many employers are asking (even requiring) employees to get… Read More »
Is My Employer Required To Accommodate Me For My Scheduled Chemotherapy Treatment?
Many families are affected by cancer. The Florida Department of Health reports that approximately 115,000 new cases of cancers are reported in the state each year. While we still have a very long way to go to fight the disease, improved chemotherapy treatments are improving the short-term and long-term prognosis for patients. Many people… Read More »
Does The National Labor Relations Act Cover Graduate Student Assistants?
For quite awhile now, graduate student teaching assistants across the country have argued that they should be considered employees, and not students, for the purposes of being covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Indeed, for years, graduate students have attempted to organize, and have argued that they should be entitled to collective… Read More »