Category: BLOG
Minnesota Supreme Court Decision Grants New Rights to Employees Disabled from Workplace Injury
A Victory to Minnesota Employees The Minnesota Supreme Court has just handed a victory to Minnesota employees who have been disabled as a result of a workplace injury. The Court’s recent ruling in the Daniel v. City of Minneapolis case, states that employees who develop a disabling condition resulting from an on-the-job injury may now recover …
Understanding DATWA: Minnesota’s Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act
PART ONE Ten Things Minnesota Job Applicants Need To Know About Drug & Alcohol Testing Laws You received a telephone call from a prospective employer, and they want to hire you! You are ecstatic – this is the dream job you’ve always wanted! The employer goes on to tell you that that the “offer of …
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Whistleblowers Take a Stand – Cheating Legitimate Small Businesses Out of Government Contracts
Much of the work of the federal government is accomplished through contracts with non-governmental entities. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, those contracts added up to more than $500 billion. The Legislature wants a good portion (23%) of those dollars to go to small businesses as a means of strengthening the nations’ economy. …
Class Action Lawsuit Basics
In our previous posts, we have reported on a number of class-action lawsuits involving chocolate, cell phone overcharges, and defective video game systems. While the settlements to these lawsuits may involve millions of dollars, many people may not understand how (or why) they are created. Through this post, we will explain why they are important. …
MANY CONSUMERS UNAWARE OF TCPA VIOLATIONS
Sales solicitations and collection calls can be very annoying, especially when a roto-dialer initiates contact and asks you to hold for “a very important matter.” While many consumers have experienced these calls at home, few actually understand that they should not be used on mobile phones. In fact, federal law prohibits this practice. Under the …
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WAGE GAP PERSISTENT DESPITE OTHER GAINS FOR WOMEN
There has been a lot of buzz over the past few years about the surprising economic gains for women during the recession. Women have been pursuing advanced education at a higher rate than men, and have a lower unemployment rate than men. In fact, 680,300 more women are working now than over a previous three-year …
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Whistleblower Might Get Second Chance as Advocate
A former college dean who says she was blackballed after suing the now-scuttled Globe University may have a second career as a whistleblower advocate. Heidi Weber, who moved to the Twin Cities from South Dakota to become a Globe University dean only to be fired in 2011, was featured on the Aug. 31 episode of …
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Are Facebook “Likes” Protected Under the First Amendment?
Employees are protected from termination in retaliation of speech protected under the First Amendment. Particularly in the case of government employees working for elected officials, this is can be a complex issue. Add to this the issue of free speech online and on social media sites, and which conduct is protected under the First Amendment …
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SOCIAL MEDIA MIGHT TEMPT EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
In recent posts, we’ve discussed the legal privacy issues to which a pregnant Minnesota worker or job applicant is entitled. Yet a recent article questions whether social media might encourage inadvertent disclosure. As a preliminary matter, prospective employers freely admit to using some online resources, such as LinkedIn and Google, to research job candidates. Whereas …
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CBS Launches New 8-Part Series ‘Whistleblower’
CBS’s New Whistleblower Series Shines a Light on Real-Life Whistleblowers CBS television launched the new 8-part series called Whistleblower On July 13. The show offers an in-depth look at the remarkable courage and resolve of several whistleblowers, and the difficult paths they take that lead to justice. Familiar territory for Halunen Law Qui Tam/Whistleblower attorneys. Halunen’s attorneys are …
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