Blog

If you’re over 40, you face the risk of age discrimination in the workplace. You may get passed over when applying for a job, even though you’re qualified. You may get fired because your company can hire a younger worker for less pay. You may hear your boss make an offensive comment because of your...

A variety of stresses at work typically come with the job, but sexual harassment shouldn’t be one of them. Unfortunately, incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace are on the rise, including here in West Virginia. According to Market Watch, the increase began around October 2017, when the #metoo movement gained momentum. While sexual harassment...

People with disabilities should be able to work and provide for themselves without facing any kind of stigma or discrimination. Unfortunately, disability discrimination often occurs in the workplace – leaving people with disabilities with little-to-no options to find and maintain employment. Massive layoffs at Walmart demonstrate a part of a larger problem Historically, employees with...

If you’re a mom who’s breastfeeding, you may be worried about workplace discrimination when you return to the office. What will the boss and coworkers think if you need to take a break to pump? Will you get privacy to express milk? These are just some of the questions you may have. They’re legitimate questions....

Since 2016, a legislative tug-of-war has ensued between West Virginia’s unions and GOP lawmakers over the state’s right-to-work law – also dubbed the “West Virginia Workplace Freedom Act.” The law was initially passed in February 2016 and took effect in July of the same year – but not before a slew of labor organizations sought...

Religion can be a sensitive subject for some people. It can evoke disagreements and even outright disdain among opposing parties. Regardless of what one’s view is on a specific religion, or religion in general, discrimination and segregation have no ethical or legal standing in the workplace. Religious discrimination in the workplace may manifest through: Turning...

Retaliation from employers is not only spiteful, unprofessional, and juvenile, but also against the law in West Virginia. However, in many cases, employers and managers disregard the law – primarily because they don’t believe any action will ever be taken against them.  Employers and managers may retaliate against an employee for:   Reporting discrimination  Reporting sexual harassment  Rejecting sexual advances ...

Bullying promotes an unproductive work environment because employees who are distracted cannot perform their best, which can have a negative impact on a company’s bottom line. So-called “harmless” banter, for example, can escalate into harassment, hostilities and even violence that results in injuries or worse. Bullying falls into several categories: Sexual harassment: Unwanted contact or...

While high-profile sexual harassment complaints in New York City and Hollywood get most of the #MeToo headlines, they have sparked an increase in reports across the country. How prevalent is workplace sexual harassment? The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently reported the number of sexual harassment charges filed with the agency climbed 12 percent in...

More than 50 years ago, legislatures passed a law requiring all employers nationwide to pay their workers based solely on their merit. Employers were no longer allowed to pay employees differently based on their gender or race. Yet even now, half a century later, that law has somehow not taken effect in many workplaces.   The Equal Pay...