Employment Law Blog | Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A.

Discrimination is a problem for around 25% of Black employees

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in Racial Discrimination at Work on Saturday, January 16, 2021.

Regardless of race, Florida workers have the right to work in an environment that is safe and free from discriminatory treatment. For many Black employees, race discrimination is a problem where they work, despite state and federal laws prohibiting this type of behavior. Those who are victims of racism and injustice in their workplace have the right to speak out about this treatment and seek to hold liable parties accountable.

A recent study found that as many as one in four Black workers experience mistreatment at work on the basis of their race. Statistics find that both Black men and women experience workplace discrimination in relatively equal numbers. This is not a problem for only low-income earners, as even Black workers earning more than $90,000 per year state they experience discrimination at work in high numbers as well.

Lawsuit results after hostile workplace leads to resignation

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in Hostle Work Environment on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

A comfortable work environment can make a considerable difference in how much Florida residents look forward to going to work. Even if people do not necessarily enjoy the work they do, having friendly co-workers, respected management and an overall amiable place to work could lessen the possibly boring idea of going to work. However, boredom may be the least of a worker's worries if he or she works in a hostile workplace.

It was recently reported that a woman in another state has filed a lawsuit against her previous place of employment due to a hostile work environment and the factors that led to the environment. Apparently, the woman had worked for the city for nearly a decade, and while on the job, a supervisor made sexual comments and unwanted advances toward her. She reported the harassing actions, but the supervisor did not change the behavior and created a hostile environment.

Restaurant workers continue to face sexual harassment

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. on Sunday, January 10, 2021.

Whether you got your job at a Florida restaurant for experience, as a way to make ends meet or out of sheer necessity for income, you undoubtedly appreciate the fact that you have a steady job and are able to work. What you certainly do not appreciate, however, is the way that management, coworkers or even customers can act toward you, particularly when it comes to inappropriate behaviors.

As a restaurant worker, you may have anticipated possibly facing sexual harassment on the job because it remains prevalent in this industry. In fact, in 2018, claims of such harassment stemmed from the restaurant industry in higher numbers than any other industry.

Hairstyles could be the source of racial discrimination at work

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in Racial Discrimination at Work on Friday, January 8, 2021.

Florida workers should not be subjected to mistreatment in their workplace because of their race. This includes discrimination for certain types of hairstyles often worn by women of color. Some say that they must wear their hair in certain ways in professional settings because of subtle discrimination or overtly discriminatory policies. A woman's hairstyle has no bearing on her ability to do her job well.

Women may be made to feel that their preferred hairstyle is not professional enough or polished enough for certain settings. This is a prominent occurrence for Black women, especially for those who wish to work in public-facing environments, such as journalism, banking, business and much more. They say that one way to end this type of discrimination is to make more representation a priority.

Disability discrimination case somes to settlement

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in Disability Discrimination on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Living with mental illness can certainly have its difficulties. However, many people can continue working and carrying out other aspects of their daily lives as they cope with their disability. Unfortunately, some employers may lose faith in their workers after learning of a mental condition, and disability discrimination could take place.

It was recently reported that a lawsuit in Florida regarding such discrimination recently came to a settlement. The suit came about after an employee at a cable and circuit board manufacturing company was diagnosed with a mental illness and then treated unfairly on the job. The woman underwent hospitalization and received a diagnosis of a major depressive disorder. She informed her employers about her condition and soon noticed a change in the way she was treated in the workplace.

Was employee's termination a form of FMLA discrimination?

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in FMLA Discrimination on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Florida employees have the right to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work for certain reasons without fear of termination. Reasons why people may take this type of leave include the birth of a child, adoption of a new child into a family or caring for a sick immediate family member. FMLA discrimination happens when an employer fires, demotes or treats an employee unfairly after requesting or taking his or her rightful time off.

In a recent case that is brought to trial, a jury will have to determine whether what one employee experienced counts as FMLA discrimination. She claims she was fired for notifying her employer of her intention to take FMLA leave, but her employer maintains her termination was due to less-than-satisfactory performance. The employee states that she has a chronic illness that sometimes impacted her work.

Types of sexual harassment seen in the workplace

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in Hostle Work Environment on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

When Florida employees experience types of mistreatment in the workplace, they may be unsure of what to do next or whether or not they are overreacting. In reality, victims of sexual harassment and other types of illegal treatment are often confused and overwhelmed by their experience because this type of behavior can come in many different forms. Uncertainty over what happened may lead some victims to remain silent and never seek recourse.

Harassment can come from a co-worker or even a supervisor, but it can also come from other people a victim may come in contact with, including clients, contracted third parties and people from the community. The individual who instigates this type of treatment is responsible for his or her behavior, but the employer is also responsible for ensuring that employees are protected from harassment. This includes handling reports of harassment quickly and efficiently.

What counts as wrongful termination?

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in Wrongful Termination on Friday, December 25, 2020.

It's devastating to lose your job, especially if you believe your firing was unjustified and unfair. Wrongful termination is illegal, and those who experienced this type of treatment often feel unsure of what to do next. If you think you are a victim, it may be helpful to learn more about your rights as an employee and how you can protect yourself.

It is not always easy to identify treatment that could count as wrongful termination. Employees are often unprepared to fight for their rights because they are not certain what those rights include. Knowing more about this issue could help you understand if you have grounds for a civil suit against your employer after your termination.

Sexual harassment can happen when working from home

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in Sexual Harassment at Work on Wednesday, December 23, 2020.

Sexually_Harassment_Work_from_Home_Employees_Florida_Lawyer.jpg Many Florida employees are now working from home, and while this is the most convenient and safest choice for many, it come with its own types of problems. Workplace sexual harassment is often associated with in-person interactions that happen while on the job, but there are increasing numbers of reports of this type of treatment taking place virtually. Working from home does not always protect one from harassing behaviors.

It is important for employers to understand that harassment is not necessarily confined to the four walls of their building. There should be policies and standards in place that will discourage and prevent this behavior while employees are working remotely. One way to do this is to take steps to ensure compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women Act, 2013.

Man claims wrongful termination after exposing safety hazards

On behalf of Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. posted in Wrongful Termination on Monday, December 21, 2020.

Most people go to work with the intention of doing their job and doing it well. Unfortunately, doing one's job can sometimes land a worker in hot water, and it is possible that management or other parties may not appreciate the worker's thorough efforts. In some cases, workers could even face wrongful termination if employers do not like what workers find while doing their jobs.

Florida readers may be interested in one man's case currently underway in another state. According to reports, the man worked as a safety manager for a health care organization, and during the course of his duties, he discovered multiple conditions that he deemed unsafe and unsanitary. He made his discoveries known to the organization, but the company reportedly chose not to fix them due to associated expenses.