Category: Job Loss

Possibly, Particularly If You Were Not Really an “Independent Contractor” Increasingly, employers in today’s economy are hiring what they call “independent contractors” rather than “employees” to work on their behalf. This is especially the case with younger workers who may be brought on for a specific project or period of time. In California, we see…

There are numerous state and federal laws prohibiting certain kinds of harassment in the workplace. In most cases, enforcement of these laws depends upon the courage and willingness of harassed employees and their co-workers to stand up and report the violations to the authorities. But, so often employees are worried that, if they report a…

You deserve severance pay! Contrary to the advice of the few books on this topic, you have every right to receive or increase severance pay, especially when your employer wants you to sign a full release of your rights. Termination of employment is not just a disappointment, but an opportunity as well.  It’s a chance…

Reinstatement Rights After Medical Leave After enduring a long convalescence, that humdrum job never looked so good! Know your employee reinstatement rights. An employee may have a right to be reinstated to a former job upon returning from medical leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act generally applies to an employee who has worked for…

So your pink slip literally arrives out of the blue? You may have a right to advance notice of a layoff. The notice must be in writing specify the layoff date and state whether bumping rights exist and other information. The federal Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers of 100 or more employees…

On the world scene, peace talks are usually considered a better way to attempt resolution of disputes than armed conflict. Similarly in the workplace, mediation may be a better way to resolve workplace disputes than fighting it out in court. Mediation is non‑binding, informal, and quick. The mediator is typically an attorney or retired judge…