Imagine you work for a company that contracts with the federal government. You’ve had strong suspicions about your boss fudging the numbers, cheating the government out of thousands or even millions of dollars. But now, you have proof: a paper trail showing doctored...
Efficient and Effective Legal Representation
Year: 2020
Federal agencies at odds over scope of employee whistleblower protections
Whistleblower law can be exceedingly complex. For federal employees, navigating the maze of civil service laws – not to mention the alphabet soup of agencies – can be daunting. Sometimes, even the federal government itself can’t agree on the interpretation of those...
Disparate treatment: Who has the burden of proof?
Federal law prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy and disability. One of the most common types of discrimination claims involves disparate treatment – that is, an allegation that an employer...
Landmark decision protects LGBTQ workers from employment discrimination
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision on Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act. The court held that Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and transgender status. It represents a major victory for...
Blowing the whistle on health hazards at work
Health and safety in the workplace are more important now than ever before. You shouldn’t have to put your life and health on the line just to earn a living. And while some level of risk is unavoidable, reasonable precautions such as sanitization procedures,...
Recognizing signs of subtle race discrimination in the workplace
Racial discrimination in the workplace isn’t always obvious. It can be subtle yet pervasive – and just as harmful. Surreptitious forms of discrimination happen all the time in every sector, from small organizations to large institutions, causing irreparable damage and...
OSHA protections for whistleblowers
Now more than ever, people want to stand up for what's right. Yet fear of retaliation, especially in the workplace, can cause hesitation. Thankfully, whistleblowers have rights – including protection from retaliation. OSHA violations The Occupational Safety and Health...
What are “reasonable accommodations” under the ADA?
Living with a disability involves surmounting numerous hurdles. Things that other people take for granted – like vision, mobility and hearing – may be difficult or even impossible for you. Adaptive technologies might help, but they come with challenges of their own....
Whistleblower retaliation against federal employees is real
When Congress passed the Whistleblower Act of 1989, it intended to protect federal employees who spoke up about wrongdoing in government operations. Without that protection, employees would stay silent for fear of getting demoted or losing their jobs. Government...
The time is ripe for whistleblowing at work
With more employees working remotely than ever before, workers are enjoying the benefits of staying at home. No commute. No dry-cleaning. No getting roped into small talk with Chatty Cathy the next cube over. Another benefit? Greater freedom to speak up about...