Holman Schiavone, LLC Blog

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.

Teachers and other staff should protect your child from bullying

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

Bullying has been a part of the school experience for as long as there have been organized classrooms. For some reason, human nature encourages some kids, as well as some adults, to identify outsiders and torment them in many cases.

Bullying is difficult enough to deal with when you are a full-grown adult. When you are a child, the long-term social and emotional consequences of bullying can change the course of your life. A bullied child could fail to develop adequate social skills. They may also develop severe introversion and social anxiety.

Complications of surgical mesh procedures

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.

Hernias are medical matters that sometimes require surgical intervention. When one occurs, fatty tissue, an organ or the intestines push through a weak spot or a hole in connective tissues nearby. This condition is named according to the location of the hernia.

One of the methods of repair is for a surgeon to close the weak spot or hole. This is sometimes done using surgical mesh to help strengthen the area. For many people, this is necessary because hernias are likely to recur. Around 90 percent of hernia surgeries involve the use of surgical mesh.

Verbal abuse at school should never be ignored

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

As a parent, it can be difficult to fully understand the experience that your child has at school. You may notice that your child's behavior has changed and that they have become more withdrawn. This may give you cause for concern. If you suspect that your child is being bullied at school in Missouri, it is important that you approach the topic in the right way, letting them know that they are in a safe space to open up.

Bullying, both physical and verbal, can have a huge impact on a child's life. While physical injuries can be clear evidence of abuse and can lead to action being taken, verbal abuse can, unfortunately, go under the radar. Verbal abuse can also have a severe impact on the mental well-being of a child, and such abuse should never be underestimated or tolerated.

Always document workplace discrimination

On behalf of Holman Schiavone, LLC on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.

Workplace discrimination happens every day, often to workers in service-sector jobs where employees do not feel that they have much power to fight back. If you experience discrimination in your job, you may have more fighting power than you realize. You must take some important steps to exercise that power. No company wants to deal with a discrimination claim, and many employers may look for ways to get around them, or to claim that your allegations are false. This is one of the many reasons that documentation is so important.

Any time that you experience harassment, you should document it immediately. Writing down as many details of the harassment as possible helps ensure that you do not forget something later, and makes your claim stronger. If the harassment includes physical objects or anything that can be captured in pictures, it is wise to gather this evidence as well and keep it. With strong evidence, it is much easier to build a sturdy legal strategy and protect your rights.