Holman Schiavone, LLC Blog

Harassment is pervasive in the service industry

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

Harassment and discrimination should never be tolerated in the workplace, and all workers have the right to be free from experiencing such behavior. However, it is an unfortunate fact that harassment and discrimination continues to occur in the workplace and that workers in some industries are more likely to be targeted than others.

Workers in the service industry (those working in hotels, restaurants, retail stores and in private homes) are particularly vulnerable to workplace harassment. There are several reasons why this may be the case, but none of them make the rights of service industry workers any less than other workers. If you believe that you have become a victim of harassment as a service industry worker, it is important that you gain a good understanding of the legal definition of workplace harassment, as well as what you can do to effectively assert your rights in Missouri.

Understanding the signs of religious harassment

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

We should all have the right to hold religious beliefs without fear of repercussions in the workplace. Your ability to carry out your work and perform well is not impacted by your religion, and your employer should not base employment-related decisions on irrelevant factors. Your right to be free from religious harassment in the workplace was outlined in 1964 in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, many workers who are unsure of the meaning of religious harassment often fail to take the appropriate action to enforce their rights.

This is why it is important that you understand what religious harassment means in certain contexts. That way, you will be better equipped to take action when it is within your rights to do so.

Your right to privacy in the workplace

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

As human beings, we naturally want to keep some aspects of our life private. In our personal lives, we have many rights to privacy. For example, we have the right to maintain the privacy of our home and personal property, and even law enforcement officials often must obtain permission, through search warrants, before breaching this privacy. However, when it comes to our work life, different privacy standards apply.

If you are wondering whether you have been a victim of a privacy breach in the workplace, it is important that you take the time to understand where the law in Missouri stands on this. If you find that your situation does constitute a breach of privacy, you may be able to take legal action against your employer.

Recognizing gender discrimination at work

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Wednesday, July 3, 2019.

You have the right to work in an environment that treats you fairly and equally, regardless of your gender, race or religion. These rights are laid out in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and they are in place across all states. Unfortunately, many workers continue to experience discrimination in the workplace, both explicitly and subtly. One of the most common forms of discrimination in the workplace is gender discrimination.

Gender discrimination is considered to be any type of behavior directed toward a person on the basis of their gender that is unequal and unfair. This means that many acts could constitute gender discrimination. If you believe that you have been treated unfairly in the workplace because of your gender, you may be reluctant to take action because you are unsure of whether you have a claim. This is why it is important to be able to understand the law and recognize the types of behaviors that are unacceptable.

Why arbitration agreements could affect your harassment claim

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

If you have become involved in a conflict with your employer because you made a sexual harassment claim, you will need to take the time to understand the next steps. The steps that you will be able to take will first depend on the contents of your employment contract in Missouri.

In many cases, employment contracts include an arbitration clause. This clause essentially means that all employees must go through the arbitration process rather than the court process in the event of a dispute with their employer. It tends to be put in place to help companies avoid costly litigation in the event of a dispute.

Don't stand for employers making decisions based on age

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

With age should come wisdom, and many people are taught from a young age to respect their elders. Despite that, many older workers face age discrimination on the job. Ageism is a problem, because it threatens the ability of older people to earn a living. Workers may have trouble getting or retaining a job as they age.

Age discrimination is illegal. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, also known as ADEA, makes it illegal to discriminate against people who are 40 years of age or older.

Is implicit bias a type of discrimination?

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

All of us have opinions about and associations with many different things. Some of these opinions may be consciously held, meaning that we are aware of how we feel about certain topics.

However, psychologists believe that we also have unconsciously held associations that are largely influenced by our environment and external influences. Our unconscious biases may be shaped by things such as our education, the media, and societal influences from our friends and family.

3M earplugs have caused many people to experience hearing loss

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

3M has produced a range of earplugs that claim to have the capacity to protect the ears from dangerous sound levels. For obvious reasons, the U.S. military has a need for high-quality earplugs in order to protect service members from suffering hearing loss due to extremely high volumes.

Dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2, were supplied to the U.S. military by 3M. They were marketed as extremely robust devices that would protect those in combat from hearing loss. Despite assurances that the earplugs met military specifications, 3M had evidence that they were defective. That meant military service members were suffering harm due to exposure to high noise levels without adequate hearing protection.

Invokana side effects can be deadly

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

Invokana is the brand name of the generic drug canagliflozin, which is used as part of a treatment plan for type 2 diabetes. When it is used in conjunction with exercise and an appropriate diet, patients may be able to better control their condition. While this drug is beneficial for many people, there are some harsh side effects that must be considered.

Before a doctor prescribes this drug to a patient, they must ensure that the benefits of taking it outweigh the risks. The doctor must also explain the potential dangers of the drug so the patient can make sure that they are willing to accept these risks and so they are able to watch for signs of adverse reactions.

Knowing when boundaries are crossed in the workplace

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Monday, May 13, 2019.

The relationships that you have at work are likely to define the way you view your job. When you have good communication with your coworkers, you'll probably be more efficient and happier in your work. But if you are facing difficulty in dealing with a coworker, it could mean that your career suffers as a result.

Many people accept inappropriate behavior in the workplace when they should not. It's never necessary to accept such behavior, because harassment in the work environment is unlawful. If you believe that the negative experience you had at work in Kansas City was a form of harassment, it is a good idea to understand how to set boundaries in the workplace, and how to take action when these boundaries have been crossed.