Category: BLOG
WHISTLEBLOWERS AT MINNESOTA FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES
It is important that employees are able to report improper or dangerous conditions that they observe in their workplaces. When someone is aware that fraudulent or dangerous practices could negatively impact the public, they are often uniquely positioned to report the problem. Unfortunately, an employee who is aware of a violation of the law may …
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Supreme Court Further Denies Basic Rights to Workers & Consumers
Recently the U.S. Supreme Court struck another blow against consumers and employees in the case of Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela. Yet again the Court reasoned backward from the result it wanted to reach and went out of its way to find in favor of a corporate defendant – at the expense of individual citizens …
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Minnesota’s Connect 700 Program: Aiming to Increase Representation of Workers With Disabilities, But More Progress Is Needed
In 2014, a Minnesota demographic survey conducted on State employees showed that less than 4% self-identified as having a disability. When compared to the presence of employees with a disability statewide and nationwide, 7.9% and 10.5% respectively, it was evident that the State’s workforce did not reflect the diversity of Minnesota’s population of individuals with …
Minnesota Supreme Court Decision Grants New Rights to Employees Disabled from Workplace Injury
A Victory to Minnesota Employees The Minnesota Supreme Court has just handed a victory to Minnesota employees who have been disabled as a result of a workplace injury. The Court’s recent ruling in the Daniel v. City of Minneapolis case, states that employees who develop a disabling condition resulting from an on-the-job injury may now recover …
Understanding DATWA: Minnesota’s Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act
PART ONE Ten Things Minnesota Job Applicants Need To Know About Drug & Alcohol Testing Laws You received a telephone call from a prospective employer, and they want to hire you! You are ecstatic – this is the dream job you’ve always wanted! The employer goes on to tell you that that the “offer of …
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Whistleblowers Take a Stand – Cheating Legitimate Small Businesses Out of Government Contracts
Much of the work of the federal government is accomplished through contracts with non-governmental entities. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, those contracts added up to more than $500 billion. The Legislature wants a good portion (23%) of those dollars to go to small businesses as a means of strengthening the nations’ economy. …
WAGE GAP PERSISTENT DESPITE OTHER GAINS FOR WOMEN
There has been a lot of buzz over the past few years about the surprising economic gains for women during the recession. Women have been pursuing advanced education at a higher rate than men, and have a lower unemployment rate than men. In fact, 680,300 more women are working now than over a previous three-year …
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SOCIAL MEDIA MIGHT TEMPT EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
In recent posts, we’ve discussed the legal privacy issues to which a pregnant Minnesota worker or job applicant is entitled. Yet a recent article questions whether social media might encourage inadvertent disclosure. As a preliminary matter, prospective employers freely admit to using some online resources, such as LinkedIn and Google, to research job candidates. Whereas …
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CBS Launches New 8-Part Series ‘Whistleblower’
CBS’s New Whistleblower Series Shines a Light on Real-Life Whistleblowers CBS television launched the new 8-part series called Whistleblower On July 13. The show offers an in-depth look at the remarkable courage and resolve of several whistleblowers, and the difficult paths they take that lead to justice. Familiar territory for Halunen Law Qui Tam/Whistleblower attorneys. Halunen’s attorneys are …
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The #MeToo Phenomenon and What it Means for Workplace Sexual Harassment Claims
Several months ago the New York Times published an article on why the #MeToo phenomenon has become one of the most important movements in the employment law arena.1 Journalist Susan Chira explained the results of a national online survey reporting that an astounding 81% of women and 43% of men had experienced some form of …
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