Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Panera Employees File Claim Alleging Failure to Pay Overtime Wages
A number of Panera employees in Washington D.C. and Alabama recently filed a class action lawsuit against the restaurant, claiming that they were not paid overtime wages. All of the employees worked as assistant managers and according to the complaint, were unlawfully classified as exempt workers and so were denied the overtime pay and… Read More »
Former Wells Fargo Employees Claim They were Fired for Whistleblowing
Recently, Wells Fargo was ordered to repay a former employee back pay and to reinstate her to her former position after she was terminated for whistleblowing. If you were fired for reporting a workplace violation and want to learn more about filing your own claim for compensation, please contact a wrongful termination lawyer as… Read More »
American Airlines Accused of Discriminating Against Employees with Disabilities
Last week, American Airlines and one of its subsidiaries agreed to pay approximately $9.8 million in stock to settle claims made by ex-employees who alleged that they were discriminated against as a result of their disabilities. Unfortunately, this type of discrimination against employees with disabilities is not uncommon, so if you or a loved… Read More »
HUD Issues New Guidance on FHA Protections for Those with Limited English Proficiency
In September, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published new guidance on how the Fair Housing Act (FHA) applies to claims of housing discrimination based on a person’s inability to speak fluent English. According to HUD’s recent announcement, the FHA prohibits this type of conduct, so if you were denied housing… Read More »
HUD Warns Missouri About Effects of Recently Enacted Anti-Discrimination Legislation
Last week, a letter that was sent by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to state officials in July was finally released to the public. According to the letter, officials in Missouri were notified that the state would no longer be permitted to participate in certain federal housing programs due to… Read More »
Third Circuit Court Holds That Employees Must be Paid for Short Rest Breaks
Last week, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued an important decision regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act and employee rest breaks. Ultimately, the court determined that employers are required to compensate workers for breaks, however, this is only true for certain types of rest breaks, so if you have questions about whether your… Read More »
New Florida Law Provides for ADA Inspections
This year, the Florida Legislature passed a bill designed to protect business owners in the state from frivolous ADA lawsuits, while also ensuring that all violations are addressed within a reasonable timeframe. The new law, former bill 727, went into effect on July 1st. Inspecting Premises for ADA Violations Under the terms of… Read More »
Investigation Reveals Widespread Labor Violations in Trucking Industry
Last month, Costco announced that it would no longer be doing business with a California trucking company that had been accused of forcing its drivers to work overtime without pay. The decision is only one example of the actions being taken by many well-known name brands in response to a USA Today Network investigation… Read More »
Transgender Employees and the ADA
Until recently, employees who had been the victims of discrimination in the workplace were required to file claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. However, a federal district court recently held that a transgender employee who suffered from gender dysphoria was also permitted to file… Read More »
New Federal Bill Seeks to Expand Fair Housing Act to Cover Gender Identity
Earlier this year, a new bill was introduced in the Senate, that if passed, could significantly expand the protections offered under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Currently, the FHA prohibits housing discrimination based on color, race, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. The law’s proponents seek to expand the protections offered by the… Read More »
