How Did the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Change History? On March 25, 1911—exactly 110 years ago today—a fire broke out in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in lower Manhattan. Hundreds of workers, primarily young, immigrant women, were locked inside the sweatshop. The locked doors were intentional: they were intended to keep...
Is it Illegal to Discriminate Based on Family or Parental Status? In California, it is illegal to discriminate against an employee because of their role as a caregiver for a child, parent, or person with disabilities. This is known as family responsibilities discrimination (“FRD”). Family status discrimination is not...
According to a new bombshell report by the New York Times, a whistleblower has come forward testifying that Credit Suisse, who previously settled claims with the U.S. Government that it helped rich Americans hide money from the IRS and evade taxes, continued to brazenly help these individuals continue to...
Finding out that your employer is breaking the law is stressful. Will you lose your job if you complain? Will you be iced out of meetings or reassigned? People are rightfully worried about retaliation and fear speaking up. If you are one of the brave people who want to...
The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is a crucial Covid-19 relief effort. Because the program is vulnerable to fraud whistleblowers are key to ensuring that taxpayers are not defrauded. The PPP gives monetary assistance to...
Las leyes federales y estatales contra la discriminación cubren muchos grupos protegidos, entre ellos la raza, el género, el sexo, y la religión. Lo que muchos empleados no se dan cuenta o aprecian es que estas leyes también prohíben la discriminación basada en el origen nacional. La Discriminación de...
The Federal and State anti-discrimination laws cover many protected groups, including race, gender, sex, and religion. What many employees do not realize or appreciate is that these laws also prohibit discrimination based on national origin. The EEOC has taken the position that discrimination based on national origin discrimination includes discrimination based on an employee...
In 2020, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act by a bipartisan vote. The bill died in the Senate. Now, the bill has been proposed again. Here is why the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is necessary and long overdue. If you work in California and...
Bullying is a hot topic in America. The word evokes an image of a playground bully, humiliating you and diminishing your self-esteem. What is the difference between workplace bullying and illegal discrimination? When does bullying meet the legal requirements of a hostile work environment? The concepts of bullying, harassment,...
The concept of a “protected class” is the foundation of American discrimination law. The same misconduct may be legal or illegal based on whether or not it is motivated by its victim’s membership in a “protected class.” In the employment context, the concept of protected classes determines whether a termination...