Milwaukee Wisconsin Legal Blog

Filing a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an important step for people who have been discriminated against at work. Victims trust the EEOC to thoroughly investigate claims of workplace discrimination, but this is not always the case. Some Wisconsin workers might have already had to deal with their cases being closed without any type of investigation.

The EEOC categorizes claims as either low or high priority. Starting in 2008, the EEOC doubled the number of complaints that it categorized as low priority. Many of these claims would have once been categorized as a higher priority and as such would have been investigated as needed, but the low priority designation is a much different story. The EEOC rarely performs probes or attempts at mediation for claims fall into the lowest-priority track.

Being caught between helping an employer and doing what is right can be an extremely precarious position. When a worker in Wisconsin decides to come forward about misconduct or even illegal workplace behavior, they have to put a lot on the line. This is why there are supposed to be measures in place that protect those who engage in whistleblowing, but those protections sometimes fall short.

The head of U.S. sales for Fiat Chrysler recently filed a lawsuit against his employer. Reid Bigland claims that his employer retaliated against him after he cooperated with the Securities and Exchange Commission while the agency investigated the company's sales-reporting practices. According to his lawsuit, Fiat Chrysler withheld approximately 90% of what should have been his pay when they found out about his cooperating with the investigation.

Employees in Wisconsin and across the rest of the country should be able to go to work without worrying about unwanted sexual advances or harassment. This type of workplace discrimination is sadly still a widespread problem. When companies do not handle these issues, it is sometimes up to the workers to take matters into their own hands.

A group of 25 female McDonald's workers recently filed sexual harassment complaints against the fast food restaurant. The complaints were filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Most of these complaints are new, which means that the EEOC will have to investigate the claims. However, some were follow-up complaints  from 2018, which means that they will proceed to court.

It is exciting to be the chosen candidate for a new job, and the next step is reviewing your employment contract. Clear, concise language is very important in the drafting of an employment contract. As a potential new hire, you have rights to protect.

You want to be sure that you understand everything the employer has included in this document and are satisfied as to the description, requirements and benefits concerning your position. Here are five elements that should be present in the contract your new employer wants you to sign.