Category: EMPLOYMENT
Victims of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Assault are no Longer Bound by Employer’s Arbitration Clauses
In a rare show of bipartisanship, the Senate passed, and the President signed into law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (the “Act”). What are arbitration agreements, and how do they affect your employment? Regardless of their size, many companies manage to squeeze in some sort of an arbitration provision …
Recent Halunen Law lawsuit challenges entrenched discriminatory, retaliatory behavior at Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training office
Alleging a deep-seated culture of egregious and overt acts of race discrimination and retaliation at the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), a lawsuit on behalf of former POST employee Starr Suggs was recently filed by Halunen Law employment attorneys Maria Shatonova and Colin Pasterski. POST is the regulatory agency in charge …
Severance Pay When Resigning: How to Walk Out The Door With More Than Your Coffee Mug
You’ve found a better opportunity. You want to take your career in a different direction. You just can’t take it anymore and need to get out ASAP. These are a few of the many reasons people resign from their jobs, even if they don’t have a new one lined up. If you’re considering leaving …
Stock Options and Bonuses in Severance Packages Should Be More Than Afterthoughts
For many people, the icing is the best part of the cake. For many C-suite and high-level executives, the “icing” on their compensation packages – such as stock options, restricted share units (“RSUs”), bonuses and other nontraditional or speculative compensation structures – are often worth much more than the cake of their annual salary. Accordingly, …
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Laid Off Over 40? You Have Unique Severance Agreement Rights
Older workers’ experience, insights, and institutional knowledge can be valuable assets to a business. All too often, however, companies see older workers as a liability, leaving more seasoned employees vulnerable to prohibited age discrimination, including wrongful termination. That’s why federal law provides older workers, who are laid off over 40, with robust protections, rights, and …
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Layoffs, Downsizing, and Outsourcing… What Employees Should Know
With no end in sight to the global pandemic, many companies and especially large corporations are preparing for the new workplace to take hold and are rethinking the way they do business. Some of the changes are welcomed by the employees, for example, a flexible schedule, the ability to work from home, less travel, and …
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3 Pressure Points Executives Can Use When Negotiating a Severance Package
In any negotiation, each party comes to the process with unique pressure points. As the name implies, pressure points are those factors and considerations that put pressure on a party to close a deal and, accordingly, make them more open to compromise. Executives who enter into severance negotiations with their soon-to-be-former employers often think they …
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5 Issues To Consider In a Proposed Severance Package
Unexpected or unwanted career transitions can be a time of anxiety and opportunity. If you’re an executive or other high-ranking employee who finds yourself asked or forced to leave your current position, it’s important to make smart, informed decisions about how to do so. This includes careful consideration of any proposed severance package from your …
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COVID-19 May Constitute a Disability Under the ADA
As we continue to grapple with COVID-19 and its everchanging variants, the EEOC has updated its guidance on determining if COVID-19 constitutes a disability under the Americans with Disabilities and the Rehabilitation Act (“ADA”). Released on December 14, 2021, the guidance states that, under certain circumstances, COVID-19 may constitute a disability under the ADA. To …
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Minnesota’s Revived Law on Reasonable Accommodations
Individuals with disabilities are afforded considerable legal protection against workplace discrimination under both state and federal law. The Minnesota Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) is our state law that prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on protected characteristics in Minnesota. In the context of individuals with disabilities, the MHRA provides that, except when based on a …
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