Category: BLOG
In Bloomberg Law article, Halunen Law attorney Paul Schinner weighs in on Trump administration’s firing of Special Counsel Dellinger and potential broader implications
In the March 12 article “Dellinger Exit Deepens OSC Politicization as Workers LoseAlly,” Bloomberg Law writer Khorri Atkinson examines the Trump administration’s termination, without explanation, of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger as part of the president’s broader effort to seize control of independent agencies, and the potentially wide-ranging impact of these actions. Asked to provide his …
Attorney at Law Magazine publishes Attorney Paul Schinner’s insightful overview, “Whistleblower 101: Protection Laws to Know Before You Speak”
With a successful practice in employment law and False Claims Act cases, Halunen Law attorney Paul Schinner represents whistleblowers who speak up against illegal actions in their workplace. His extensive experience provides real-world insights for his recently published article, “Whistleblower 101: Protection Laws to Know Before You Speak.” Readers will find a useful guide to …
Truck Drivers, Couriers, and Delivery Service Workers Beware! You May Be Misclassified
Misclassification in Trucking, Courier, and Delivery Services Employee misclassification is pervasive across the United States, particularly in the trucking, courier services, and delivery industries. Employers frequently classify workers as “independent contractors” (ICs) rather than employees. This allows companies to save millions annually by sidestepping their legal obligations to pay withholding taxes, provide workers’ compensation and …
Back to Work: Can Your Employer Force You to Return to the Office?
You found a work-from-home routine that meets your needs, you’ve been a productive remote or hybrid employee, and you were hoping the working arrangement would become permanent. We get it. There’s tension, as you like your setup and don’t want to see it changed. Unfortunately, many employers feel differently. According to Resume Builder, which surveyed …
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Landmark Legislation Protects Minnesota Workers from Employee Misclassification
On May 20, 2024, the Minnesota legislature passed a groundbreaking bill aimed at tackling the prevalent issue of employer misclassification fraud. This pervasive problem, which affects workers across Minnesota and many other states, involves employers incorrectly classifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees. This misclassification allows employers to evade paying employee benefits, protections, …
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What Potential Whistleblowers Need to Know Before Exposing an Employer’s Illegal Conduct
“We’re all familiar with that ubiquitous mantra, “If you see something, say something.” We usually hear that in the context of reporting suspicious or criminal activity in public – an unattended package left in a subway station, a person menacing or threatening others, or similar potential dangers. But when employees discover their employers’ potentially dubious, …
Sexual Harassment in the Fast-Food Industry: Women Bear the Brunt of Illegal Workplace Practice
Across our nation, women employed at fast-food establishments are frequently experiencing the horrors of sexual harassment, abuse or assault in their workplace. A survey1 conducted by Hart Research Associates reports that 40% of female fast-food workers reported having been sexually harassed, abused, or assaulted on the job. The survey, which included polling 1,217 women aged …
Understanding Workplace Reasonable Accommodation Discrimination in Minnesota
When President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law more than a quarter century ago, it represented a sea change for the rights of those who have disabilities and their access to housing, transportation, places of business, and employment opportunities. Like other laws that prohibit discrimination in employment against people …
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5 Things to Know About Whistleblower Protections and Remedies Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Over the past century, securities fraud and other fraudulent activities involving publicly traded companies have cost investors – and often taxpayers – trillions of dollars. Such misconduct has also fueled major economic crises, including the 2008 financial crash. That catastrophe led to the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“SOX”), a sweeping federal law that focused …
Is Workplace Bullying Illegal?
Employees frequently call our office because they are being harassed or bullied by a boss or co-worker. You might be surprised to learn that, generally, workplace bullying is not illegal. We are often told that the employer has an Employee Handbook that includes some form of Respectful Workplace Policy that prohibits any type of offensive …