As the giants of the tech industry continue massive layoffs in the face of current economic headwinds, more and more workers find themselves facing the challenges and uncertainties that come with being a victim of this restructuring. Employees who have been affected by one of these mass layoffs likely have a lot of questions: Are they getting a fair...
Continue ReadingAn estimated 30 million U.S. employees today are bound by non-compete agreements that place limits on their freedom to pursue competitive wages and new job prospects. These restrictive contracts — formerly applied only to workers with highly technical roles or proprietary knowledge — are widespread across the American labor force. Employers exploit overly broad non-compete agreements, using them to...
Continue ReadingTech workers around the country have been on edge in recent months as companies resort to restructuring to weather uncertain economic conditions. Following downsizing at Peloton, Lyft, and Twitter, Meta’s recent announcement of plans to cut 11,000 jobs from their workforce marks the largest of the layoffs that have rocked the tech industry so far in 2022. Amazon followed...
Continue ReadingPregnancy discrimination is a pervasive problem in American workplaces. Since 2016, the number of federal pregnancy discrimination lawsuits has been increasing steadily — even with women now making up 52% of all management and professional jobs in the U.S. In this post, we’ll take a look at what constitutes unlawful pregnancy discrimination, and what the consequences are for employers...
Continue ReadingOn December 20, 2022, disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of three counts of rape and sexual assault in Los Angeles court. The timing of this conviction — less than a month after the nationwide premiere of the biographical drama detailing the journey of the reporters who exposed Weinstein as an abuser in 2017 — carries no...
Continue ReadingThe second half of 2022 has been a tough time for many workers and job seekers. As inflation climbs and recession looms, even the biggest names in tech, media, and finance have been unable to escape the slashed budgets and waves of downsizing that come with economic contraction. In the past six months, even more top- and mid-level executives...
Continue ReadingIf you’re one of the many Americans bound by a non-compete agreement, you may understandably feel frustrated. By limiting when and where you search for a new job, non-compete agreements can restrict your earning potential, derail your career goals, and put stress on your personal and professional relationships. But many people don’t realize that signing a non-compete agreement doesn’t...
Continue ReadingSeveral high-profile trials and landmark pieces of legislation have made 2022 a significant year when it comes to the ongoing fight against workplace sexual harassment. At a national level, two recent federal laws — passed with rare bipartisan support — empower survivors of sexual abuse in the workplace to speak out about their experiences and hold perpetrators accountable for...
Continue ReadingSexual harassment victims now have a new weapon at their disposal. These cases are now exempt from forced arbitration clauses. This is a huge new development that should help victims resolve these cases quickly, and hopefully, it will deter sexual harassment in the workplace. The 2017 #MeToo movement had a massive impact in breaking the silence around workplace sexual...
Continue ReadingCalifornia passed the Equal Pay Act in 1949 in hopes of closing the wage gap between men and women. Unfortunately, the original law had significant loopholes. To strengthen the Equal Pay Act, California enacted the Fair Pay Act in 2015. This law, along with additional changes that came after it, significantly improved the chances of success for Californians pursuing...
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