A qui tam lawsuit allows individuals to sue on behalf of the United States to recover money that was fraudulently obtained by a person or corporation. Under the federal False Claims Act, liability is put on the people and companies who defraud the government. Individuals who file qui tam complaints are referred to as “whistleblowers.” Qui tam lawsuits are filed “under seal,” which means they are kept confidential so only the government is aware of the claim. The person or entity[…] Read More
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Study Shows That Many American Workers Do Not Know Their Rights
Study Shows That Many American Workers Do Not Know Their Rights According to a recent YouGov poll of 1,000 adult U.S. citizens, most Americans know of currently protected statuses in the workplace. However, many assume that other groups are also protected, while in fact they are not. When asked, most people expressed that the currently unprotected groups should be protected, with the exception of those with a criminal record. Specifically, the YouGov poll asked whether it is currently illegal for[…] Read More
Is Epilepsy Covered Under the Americans with Disabilities Act?
Discrimination is an illegal act in the workplace, prohibited federally under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA protects qualified individuals with disabilities, defined as those who have impairments, have a record of an impairment, or is regarded as having a disability. Individuals with epilepsy, the chronic neurological condition, is one disability that is covered under the ADA, as it is an impairment that limits the ability to work. There are almost 200,000 new cases of seizure disorders and[…] Read More
What Should Employees Know About Wrongful Termination?
Though New Jersey is an “at-will” employment state, meaning employees can be terminated without cause in certain employment circumstances, there are many instances where employees may have valid wrongful termination complaints. Unfortunately, many terminated workers believe they do not have a wrongful termination complaint when, in fact, they do. Wrongful termination lawsuits typically stem from employers’ breaking federal or state discrimination laws, employment contracts, or labor laws, including whistleblower laws. Wrongful termination may also apply in retaliation cases stemming from[…] Read More
What Is Considered Verbal Harassment in the Workplace?
Shouting, belittling, disparaging remarks, name-calling, and offensive or obscene language are considered verbal abuse in the workplace, as are harassing comments regarding an employee’s gender, race, or sexual orientation. Verbal harassment may be attributed to company owners, supervisors, managers, coworkers, and even clients, customers, or contractors. Employees are protected from verbal harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. These federal laws also establish discrimination[…] Read More