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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...

There is sometimes confusion between the different rights for different types of employment. What constitutes working hours? When exactly does an employer need to compensate a non-exempt employee? We hope to clarify these and other questions. The difference between exempt and non-exempt employees There are two basic types of employment in this country: exempt and...

Recent reports have shed light on a problem many people have been facing for generations: adhere to the societal norms or risk losing your job. Despite the overall rise in LGBT acceptance, trans people still face discrimination in the workplace. They are presented with an impossible choice. Act like the gender to which they were...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have been monitoring truck driver fatigue and the role it plays in accidents for a long time. In 2007, a report published by both agencies found that fatigue was a “critical factor” in 13 percent of all accident which involved...

You’re in a job interview and get this question: How much money did your previous employer pay you? While it may be easy to answer, it may be difficult to negotiate the salary you think you deserve after you reveal the number. Your new employer has leverage to lock you into a salary lower than...