Sep 29, 2021
What Rights Do I Have When My Employer Fails to Implement COVID-19 Prevention Policies?
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised numerous workplace issues, leading to a deluge of calls to law firms representing employees and employers alike. Employers want to know if they have to grant an employee’s request to work from home. Employees want to know if they may report or oppose an unsafe work condition. “Why should I expose my family to serious health risks because my employer refuses to require masks or social distancing, and does not contact trace?” If an employee so protesting suffers workplace retaliation, is he/she a legally protected whistleblower?
Sep 20, 2021
Can I Be Fired for Failing a Drug Test After Consuming Medical Cannabis?
Social views on marijuana use have changed markedly since President Nixon famously declared a “War on Drugs” early in his presidency. Even more so with respect to medicinal use, given its efficacy at treating chronic pain, PTSD and a variety of other medical conditions. Today, 36 states and 4 territories have in place laws authorizing the medical use of cannabis products. Despite this sea change, possession of even a small amount of marijuana remains a crime under federal law, punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of $1,000.
Sep 10, 2021
May an Employer Deduct From My Paycheck for Any Reason?
Minnesota law allows employers to make deductions to employee paychecks to recover for “faulty workmanship, loss, theft or damage” or “other claimed indebtedness.” But only if the employee agrees to the deduction in writing after the loss or claimed debt occurs. Minn. Stat. § 181.79. Exceptions apply, such as where the employer has obtained a court judgment against the subject employee for the debt or where a collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise.
Sep 01, 2021
Are Independent Contractor Non-Competes Treated Differently Under the Law Than Employee Non-Competes?
Workers provide services to their employers either of two ways: as employees or independent contractors. Some businesses engage both, oftentimes performing the very same tasks side-by-side. Therefore, it may surprise you to learn that under Minnesota law, different rules apply to enforcing contractor versus employee non-competes. This article will go through some of the main differences.
Aug 10, 2021
Must Out-of-State Employers Comply with Minnesota’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Statute?
Minnesota has one of the nation’s most stringent drug and alcohol testing statutes, Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act (DATWA), Minn. Stat. § 181.953 et seq. If an out-of-state employer were to hire a Minnesota resident for a job in a state other than Minnesota, must the employer comply with DATWA’s numerous requirements? The answer may surprise you.
Jul 21, 2021
Do I Have a Right to Privacy in the Workplace?
Electronics permeate our daily lives, in the workplace as well as at home. Ever more employees use company-issued cellular telephones in addition to computers, often (with an employer’s consent) for personal as well as work-related purposes. The blurring of lines between our work and private lives adds a special urgency to the issue of privacy in electronic communications. Unfortunately, the law gives few clear-cut answers to basic questions. The answers, to some extent, depend on who you work for and the invasion’s level of egregiousness.
Jul 09, 2021
Am I Entitled to Pay for On-Call Time?
Many employees, including fire fighters, ambulance drivers, medical care providers, IT professionals, building managers and funeral home workers, are required as a condition of their employment to be on call during off hours, available to work on short notice. Whether employees are legally entitled to pay for on-call hours depends on several factors. This article will address common issues and concerns that effect an employee’s right to pay for on-call hours.
Jun 25, 2021
A Quitter’s Guide to Employment Law: What Are My Legal Rights if I Resign?
How an employee separates from employment can profoundly impact his or her legal rights. This article will provide a general overview of the law and help guide employees facing any of three decisions: (1) whether, given the option, to quit or be fired, (2) whether to suffer an intolerable workplace situation or stay put, and (3) whether to compete with an employer under a non-competition agreement triggered by “voluntary resignation.”