Are Employers Aware of Injuries at the Workplace?
Labor Law Violations Affecting Restaurant Workers
Restaurant workers are being affected by labor laws. If you’ve ever worked as a server at a restaurant, then you know what a slow shift is like. After eight hours on the floor, you only help a handful of tables, and some are inevitably bad tippers. Your base hourly wage probably doesn’t exceed $2.13, and so you end up receiving compensation below the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-303-658-9342
How to Avoid Employee Lawsuits
Small business owners might be surprised to learn they they are vulnerable to the same worker complaints that plague corporate America. In particular, more employees are suing companies for violating wage-and-hour rules, typically claiming they weren’t paid overtime. A small business that lacks in-house counsel or a human resources department can unwittingly violate federal or state laws covering workplaces. And many business owners, eager to create informal workplaces, simply neglect to educate staff on harassment or discrimination polices. The following steps will help you avoid a potentially devastating employee lawsuit.
W.Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1888-884-3910
Lawsuits To Continue With FLSA
Employers awareness of FLSA will cost you in the future. The FLSA is an old law creating new headaches for employers. The FLSA requires the payment of a minimum hourly wage as well as overtime pay to non-exempt employees who work in excess of 40 hours during a work week. Seeking to recover significant money by representing large groups of employees, plaintiff attorneys have targeted every industry, including construction, with FLSA lawsuits. The number of private FLSA lawsuits has increased for several years, and this trend is expected to continue.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
How To Avoid Lawsuits In The Workplace
What is causing lawsuits in the workplace. Many employers get caught up in the rush to hire new employees and fail to take basic steps in the hiring process. Employers should be patient and use available screening tools. They should use an employment application form with legal disclaimers such as: employment is “at will,” and no one can change that status except in writing; the employee is subject to drug testing at any time; and statements on the application and in the screening process are truthful. References should be solicited using a separate form authorizing a background check. Other essential screening tools include in-person interviews; drug and alcohol testing; criminal, educational, credit and/or driving-record checks.
Read the full article linked below.
http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/01/12/for-employers-how-to-avoid-lawsuits/
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
Aurora Companies Are Not Free of Violations – Ask Albertsons
One of our local business is facing fines for bias comments. AURORA – Employees say it was a workplace filled with racial slurs and anti-immigrant statements. As part of the settlement of an employment discrimination lawsuit, the Albertsons LLC grocery chain will pay out nearly $9 million.
You can read the full article below.
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=128967&catid=339
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
EEOC Headaches and Lawsuits Still Exists for Companies
Government agencies are still on the move looking for violators. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is busy – continuing to accuse companies of violating federal employment laws. In the aggregate, the companies have paid millions of dollars to settle the claims.
Even Seattle-based Nordstrom was accused of harassing black and Hispanic employees, which the company denied doing, but felt compelled to pay alone.
The American Ballet Theatre was blamed for age discrimination in the firing of a 74-year-old trumpeter. Auto-parts supplier Delphi was charged with violating the Americans with Disabilities Act after demanding access to medical information from workers returning from sick leave. The financial-services company, Bloomberg, was accused of pregnancy bias. There was even a $1.8 million settlement in a same-sex harassment and retaliation case involving United Healthcare of Florida.
Read the full article below.
http://www.kirotv.com/images/sponsors/biz/how_to_avoid_eeoc_headaches_and_lawsuits.pdf
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
$1.5 Million in Back Wages Recovered By The Department of Labor
SI International SEIT Inc. agreed to pay a total of $1,559,978 in back wages to the 272 workers. Payment is to be made by Oct. 31, 2009, and proof of payment is to be provided to the Wage and Hour Division by Nov. 30, 2009.
Read the full article linked below.
http://ohsonline.com/articles/2009/10/04/dol-recovers-more-than-15-million-in-back-wages.aspx
W. Garnett & Associates, HR Consultant
1-888-884-3910
Age Discrimination Suit Filed against Ruby Tuesdays
The employment lawsuit was filed on Deptember 30, 2009 in Pennsylavania federal court. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) http://www.eeoc.gov/ filed a lawsuit against the American casual dining restaurant chain, Ruby Tuesday, for discriminating against job applicants who were 40-years-old or older.
Link to the full article below.
http://www.justicenewsflash.com/2009/10/06/ruby-tuesday-sued-age-discrimination_200910062323.html
W. Garnett & Associates, HR Consultant
1-888-884-3910
EEO Violations Hits a Local Arvada Restaurant
U.S. EEOC filed a complaint on a Denver area restaurant company. Managers of an Arvada family-owned restaurant are accused of “simply repulsive” sexual harassment against young female employees, including repeatedly groping a 16-year-old girl who worked for them and making crude jokes and comments.
You can read the full article below.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/21210331/detail.html
W. Garnett & Associates, HR Consultant
1-888-884-3910
