The good news is, disability discrimination is still illegal. I’m seeing employers laying off or firing employees because they think they’ll be a liability or are at risk because of COVID-19. That’s flatly illegal and wrong. EEOC has issued a pandemic guidance that answers some of the many questions employers and employees have regarding the interplay between the Americans With Disabilities Act and coronavirus. Here are some answers to some common questions. Is my employer…

Things you didn’t think you had to say but apparently do: age discrimination is still illegal. Doh! Apparently some employers are freaking out right now due to the coronavirus pandemic and firing or laying off older employees to “protect” them. No. No. No. You cannot, I repeat, cannot take any action against someone due to their age. I don’t care if you think it’s for their own good. Unless the government orders otherwise, forcing someone…

Well, bowl me over. Finally, a somewhat pro-employee law is signed into law, and all it took was a global pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127) became law on March 18, 2020. Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion: If you are unable to work (or telework) due to a need for leave to care for your son or daughter under 18 years of age if the school or place of care has been…

Sometimes a layoff takes employees by surprise. But there are usually signs, if you are paying attention. Here are some signs the company may be cutting back: Paychecks bounce or are late: If your paycheck bounces or is late once, okay, maybe a glitch. But if it happens more than once, it’s fair to assume the company is in trouble. Don’t let them get further and further behind. If they aren’t paying you, start looking…

I’ve shuddered everytime I’ve read about another coronavirus quarantine, because I assume lots of folks are losing their jobs when they don’t return from vacation. So what are your rights if you’re quarantined? What are your rights if you get coronavirus? And what are your rights if your coworkers have coronavirus? Well, there are few certain answers, but there are some laws that might help: State laws on paid sick leave: Some, not a majority,…

When asked about the sexual harassment complaints against him, Mike Bloomberg said, ““None of them accuse me of doing anything other than, maybe, they didn’t like a joke I told.” Groan. Why wasn’t he prepared for this? It’s a pickle for his handlers, because there’s a whole book out of his inappropriate comments at work. If I were prepping him, I’d have told him to get out in front of it before it turned…

Without a doubt, Elizabeth Warren eviscerated Mike Bloomberg this week regarding the sexual harassment settlements his company has that contain non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). I don’t know why he wasn’t prepared for this question, as the issue has been all over social media. But here’s what he should have said: As a matter of fact, I have with me my signed modification of an NDA. As you know, non-disclosure provisions are part of a larger settlement…