Category: BLOG
False Claims Act Whistleblowers Are Critical to Exposing Fraud in Government Grant Programs
Individuals Who Expose Fraud Can Be Handsomely Rewarded for Doing So If you remember the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, you’ll recall that one of the reasons the document was “ordained and established” was to “promote the general Welfare.” One way the federal government does so is by funding billions of dollars in grant programs. …
After Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation or Wrongful Termination, All Roads Don’t Lead to the Courthouse
You’ve likely heard some variation of the adage, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” When we meet people who’ve experienced workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination, many of them arrive believing the only tool that can obtain justice is the hammer of litigation. Many more victims …
What You Should Know About Drug Testing and Medical Cannabis Issues in the Workplace
A majority of states, 38 to date plus four United States territories, have enacted statutes legalizing the consumption of cannabis to treat specified medical conditions. Some of these jurisdictions provide legal protections in the workplace for medical cannabis/marijuana users. Minnesota is one. That is, individuals in Minnesota with a qualifying medical condition (which includes chronic …
After Harassment, Discrimination or Wrongful Termination, You Deserve Justice. But What Does Justice Mean to You?
What once seemed like your dream job has turned into a nightmare. Maybe you endured harassment that your employer failed to address or stop. Perhaps you were denied opportunities, mistreated, or terminated because of your race, age, religion, disability, or other legally protected status. Maybe you observed illegal conduct in your organization. Or you may …
Halunen Law recognized as “Minnesota’s Best” Employment Lawyer and Law Firm for second consecutive year
Firm wins Gold Award honors in Star Tribune statewide “Minnesota’s Best” Campaign MINNEAPOLIS, MN (September 25, 2022): Minneapolis-based Halunen Law received the distinct honor of being selected for the second consecutive year as a Gold Award Winner for its outstanding work in the legal field. In the 2022 Star Tribune “Minnesota’s Best” campaign, voters from …
Gender Bias in Executive Severance Negotiations
A new study from researchers at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Nebraska has determined that men in executive leadership positions receive over $500,000 more in severance compensation than women. The study, recently published in the Journal of Business and Psychology, examines severance packages at the executive level through a series of …
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Bipartisan Bill Would Speed Compensation and Increase Protection For SEC Whistleblowers
The federal government has several whistleblower programs that encourage, protect, and reward individuals for reporting fraudulent or illegal conduct. Few such efforts have been as successful and put more money in whistleblowers’ pockets as has the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) whistleblower program. The SEC reports that since the whistleblower program’s inception, it has awarded …
Game Theory and Severance: Why You Should Always Negotiate
Your career isn’t a game, especially if you face the unexpected, unwanted or unjustified end of your current tenure. But if your employer decides to show you the door and offers you a severance package, you’re playing a high-stakes game, whether you like it or not. As with all negotiations, hashing out a severance package …
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Victims of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Assault are no Longer Bound by Employer’s Arbitration Clauses
In a rare show of bipartisanship, the Senate passed, and the President signed into law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (the “Act”). What are arbitration agreements, and how do they affect your employment? Regardless of their size, many companies manage to squeeze in some sort of an arbitration provision …
Recent Halunen Law lawsuit challenges entrenched discriminatory, retaliatory behavior at Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training office
Alleging a deep-seated culture of egregious and overt acts of race discrimination and retaliation at the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), a lawsuit on behalf of former POST employee Starr Suggs was recently filed by Halunen Law employment attorneys Maria Shatonova and Colin Pasterski. POST is the regulatory agency in charge …