STAFFING FIRM’S NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS HELD UNENFORCEABLE
The Seventh Circuit affirmed that a Chicago-based information technology staffing firm’s non-compete agreements were unenforceable. The Company, Instant Technology LLC, sued four former employees and its former Vice President for Sales and Operations, Elizabeth DeFazio, for joining a competitor firm,
NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT EXPANDS EMPLOYER LIABILITY IN “WATCHDOG” EMPLOYEE WHISTLEBLOWER CASE
Earlier this month, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in Lippman v. Ethicon that workers whose job entails monitoring whether their employers are complying with certain rules, regulations and standards, sometimes called “watchdog” employees, are entitled to whistleblower protection under
JERSEY CITY COUNSEL PASSES WAGE THEFT ORDINANCE
The nine-member city council of Jersey City unanimously voted for the passing of an anti-wage theft ordinance which will protect workers from having their wages stolen by employers. If signed by the Mayor of Jersey City, the law would allow
NEW YORK JUDGE GRANTS FOOD DELIVERY DRIVERS CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION IN UNPAID WAGES SUIT
On March 5, 2015, a delivery driver for Lychee House, a Chinese restaurant located in Midtown Manhattan, filed a lawsuit against the Company for unpaid wages pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Labor Law. Plaintiff, Yong
PRESIDENT OBAMA EXPANDS OVERTIME PAY LAWS
Last week, President Obama announced changes to the overtime pay laws by expanding its protection to almost 5 million workers. Currently, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, workers who earn more than $455 per week, that is, $23,660 per year,
NJ GAS STATION ATTENDANTS AWARDED $5.5 MILLION IN BACK WAGES
The U.S. Labor Department reported that over 1,100 gas station attendants in New Jersey have received $5.5 million in back wages and damages over the past five years as a result of the Labor Department’s “multiyear enforcement initiative.” The Labor
INQUIRIES ABOUT CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS BARRED FROM NYC JOB APPLICATIONS
The “Fair Chance Act,” a bill providing protection to prospective employees with criminal histories during the interview process, was recently passed by a 45-5 vote by the New York City Council. Under the bill, private employers are barred from asking
NEW YORK NAIL SALONS MUST POST BILL OF RIGHTS
In an effort to eliminate the exploitation of nail salon workers, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a workers’ bill of rights that must be posted in plain view at every nail salon. The posters are printed in 10 languages
U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST ABERCROMBIE & FITCH IN RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION CASE
We reported last year that the U.S. Supreme Court was set to hear an appeal in a religious discrimination case commenced by Samantha Elauf, a Muslim woman, in 2008. Elauf alleged that she was denied a salesperson position at an Abercrombie
THIRD CIRCUIT REVIVES SLEEPY’S DRIVERS SUIT
As we previously reported, the delivery drivers of Sleepy’s LLC commenced a class action lawsuit alleging that the Company misclassified them as independent contractors, thereby denying them certain employee protections and benefits. The lower court ruled that the drivers were