The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that acknowledges that you may need more time off than your holiday allowance gives you. If you and meet the qualifying condition, your employer must allow you unpaid leave. If they do not, or if they retaliate...
Pittsburgh Legal Blog
Can you legally be fired as an educator for sexual orientation?
It seems as if there have been a lot of stories in the news in recent years in which private educational institutions have terminated employees after discovering information about them such as their sexual orientation. One such case that garnered attention in recent...
3 telltale signs you could be a victim of discrimination at work
Discrimination in the workplace is not just a big or small business problem. It exists in pretty much all kinds of workplaces. Regardless of the circumstances, it is important that you understand how to identify incidents of discrimination because it can affect you...
Can a non-compete agreement be too strict?
It is no secret that non-compete agreements are written to favor the needs of the business over the best interests of the former employee. Organizations will often use vague language, unclear wording or restrictive provisions to protect their trade secrets,...
Can your employer make you cut your hair?
If you start a new position at work, one of the things you will have to do is follow the workplace dress code. Many employers have a dress code that regulates visible tattoos and piercings, clothing, makeup and other aspects of your appearance. As long as those...
Do you have to disclose a disability at work?
Living with a disability can be frustrating and difficult to deal with sometimes. Fortunately, not all disabilities have a major impact on your ability to complete certain kinds of work. If you’ve applied for a role in which your disability shouldn’t make a...
Can my employer fire me for union-organizing activities?
Not so many decades ago, Pennsylvania was a state with many very active local unions. Over time and the collapse of Rust Belt industries like coal mining and steel production, the strength and power of unions waned considerably. But some employees are striving to...
What to ask at your child’s next IEP meeting
Your child has been diagnosed with a learning disorder, and that’s evolved into the need for an individualized education program (IEP) at school. Ideally, you and your child’s educators will be on the same page -- but life is usually far from ideal. Many educators act...
Your employer should support you after a major medical event
You are a dedicated employee who has always shown up to work, even when feeling under the weather. After years on the job, you may eventually need your employer to repay you for that loyalty. If you experience an adverse medical event like a stroke or suffer severe...
Are you familiar with wage and hour claim retaliation?
Many employees assume that their employer sets rules and they must follow them, or they can't work there. Most workers don't realize that employers must abide by a whole host of government regulations when hiring, employing, and firing employees. One such law is the...