The company handbook provides an important role in a business. An employee handbook provides a guide for office protocol and should be updated regularly. Operating without an updated employee handbook can leave a business vulnerable. Because of the important information that a company’s handbook contains it is critical that they are reviewed and updated regularly. … Read more
Many businesses in the New York City neighborhoods and surrounding communities may want to have an employment contract with at least some of their workers. Employment contracts are standard in many industries, and some desirable applicants may even expect them before agreeing to work for a company. In other cases, having the terms of employment … Read more
When an employee leaves an organization, the employer may offer him or her a severance agreement that lays out the financial terms of their departure. Severance agreements are not required under the law, but employers may offer them as a goodwill gesture to employees who have been with the organization for a long time. The … Read more
Retaliation can occur in the workplace when employees are punished by their employer for exercising their legal rights or participating in a lawful activity. In New York, workplace retaliation is against the law. It is illegal for the employer to retaliate against employees for reporting or filing a discrimination claim or sexual harassment claim, participating … Read more
In New York and across the nation, workplace issues have become part of the daily news cycle. Employers should be cognizant of their vulnerability to legal filings, a diminished reputation and the litany of problems that might accompany allegations of sexual harassment. This is a problematic part of its corporate culture. To mitigate these possible … Read more
There are many decisions that business owners must make when they set up their new entities. From the structures they utilize to the products or services they will offer for sale, New York business owners have a lot to work through to get their fledgling entities off the ground. In some cases, they may lose … Read more
People in New York have many different types of jobs. At these various jobs they have different responsibilities that they must perform while at work. They may be in entry level positions, mid-level or upper management positions within the various companies that people work at. While people work in different types of jobs and have … Read more
Employers cannot fire their employees because of their race and national origin. But they may take adverse employment actions if these employment disputes do not involve discrimination. On Feb. 3, a federal appeals court for New York dismissed a discrimination lawsuit filed by a City University of New York professor because she was fired for … Read more
Allegations of discrimination of any type can be devastating to your business. While a bad legal outcome can force you to pay out a significant amount of compensation, it can also cause significant harm to your business’s reputation. So, with so much at stake you can’t afford to lack the knowledge and legal insight you … Read more
Employers in New York may have many workplace rules and practices they expect their employees to follow. They may document these rules and practices in an employee handbook. Employee handbooks help business owners manage their enterprise, help employees understand their benefits and rights and can legally protect both business owners and employees. There are three … Read more
Recruiting and retaining top talent is a struggle that many businesses face at one point or another. This can limit your business’s potential, thereby affecting your clients and your profitability. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to better position your business with the talent and protection it needs. How employment contracts can help … Read more
What do burgers and art supplies have in common? They are both sold on websites recently challenged by disabled plaintiffs. Blind plaintiffs have filed lawsuits alleging certain websites violate federal, state and city laws because they contain various access barriers and are not fully usable by the blind. This summer two federal courts in New … Read more
New York City has enacted a package of “Fair Workweek” laws (the “Laws”) designed to ensure that fast food and retail workers are given predictable schedules and paychecks. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, workers in these industries have been subjected to unfair and inconsistent scheduling practices, leaving the employees with a lack of clarity … Read more
In the first law of its kind in the United States, New York City has passed a local law which establishes a variety of protections for freelance workers. Called “Establishing Protections for Freelance Workers,” or the “Freelance Isn’t Free Act,” the law provides freelance workers with the right to a written contract, and to be … Read more
It is typical for an employer to assume – albeit incorrectly – that an employee who has undocumented immigration status is not protected by various fair wage laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law. After all, on its face it would not take a great leap of logic … Read more
Professional Employer Organizations, also known as “PEOs,” are becoming more popular every year. PEOs service businesses with only one employee and up to hundreds, and in almost any industry imaginable. They also recently obtained long-awaited federal recognition with President Obama’s signing of the Small Business Efficiency Act. This law, among other things, provides for IRS … Read more