LAYOFFS AND FURLOUGHS DUE TO COVID-19 IN OHIO: WHAT ALL EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW.

Employers across Ohio are closing their operations due to Gov. DeWine’s declaration of a state of emergency and the “Shelter in Place” Order.  While the emergency declaration and the “Shelter in Place” Order are necessary to #flattenthecurve, many Ohio businesses are reducing their workforce due to the coronavirus pandemic through layoffs, furloughs, reductions in hours, and pay cuts. The business decisions an employer makes have different impacts on its employees.

If you have been laid off, furloughed or had a reduction in hours, you have important rights.

OHIO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

The emergency declaration expands unemployment coverage in Ohio until the emergency declaration is lifted.

• If you are quarantined due to COVID-19 you are eligible for unemployment benefits.
• The one week waiting period to file for unemployment benefits has been waived so an unemployed worker can file for benefits immediately upon being separated.

The online form to apply is found at: http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/num/JFS00671/pdf/. Applying online will help expedite your application.

If you are working, but have a reduction in hours, you may still be eligible to apply; however, your earnings will be deducted from your maximum benefit amount. This means if what you earn in a week with reduced hours is more than your state maximum benefit, you will not receive unemployment. Maximum Weekly Benefits are:

• The emergency declaration has waived the requirement that a person receiving unemployment benefits is “actively seeking work.”

THE CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND EMERGENCY SECURITY ACT

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Emergency Security Act or the “CARES Act” that passed on March 27, 2020 impacts your unemployment benefit entitlement and Maximum Weekly Benefits. Under this federal stimulus law, if you have an unemployment claim in Ohio, you are entitled to an additional weekly $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payment on top of existing state unemployment benefits for a maximum of thirty-nine weeks, subject to further extension rules. Further, sick employees who have the coronavirus can also collect unemployment if they are not receiving paid leave benefits.

The CARES Act mandates extension of unemployment coverage to an individual who is otherwise able to work and:

1. who is not eligible for regular compensation or extended benefits under State or Federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation;
2. who has exhausted all rights to regular unemployment or extended benefits under State or Federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation;
3. who is unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because the individual has been diagnosed with COVID–19 or is experiencing symptoms of COVID–19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;
4. who is caring for a household family member who has been diagnosed with COVID–19;
5. who is primary caregiver for a child or other person in the household who is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and this prevents work;
6. who is an employee or new hire that is unable to reach the place of employment because of a COVID-19 quarantine or health provider self-quarantine;
7. who has become the breadwinner or source of major support for a household because the head of the household has died from COVID–19;
8. who has to quit his or her job as a direct result of COVID–19 due to closure of the place of employment; or
9. who is self-employed, is seeking part-time employment, does not have sufficient work history, or otherwise would not qualify for regular unemployment or extended benefits under State or Federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation.

WAGE AND HOUR CONSIDERATIONS

No pay means no work.

If you have had your normal work hours reduced, your employer cannot require you to do any work outside of those reduced hours without you getting paid for it.  In other words, if an employer asks an employee to do any work during the reduced hours, then the employee must be compensated for that time.   Things like answering emails, taking phone calls, picking up mail, etc. are all work activities for which employees must be compensated.

Wages

An employer cannot reduce an hourly employee’s pay below the Ohio minimum wage which is currently $8.70 per hour.  Employers cannot reduce a salaried employee’s weekly wage below $684 per week.  Both of these are still violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Ohio Wage Act.

Payment

The Ohio Prompt Pay Act remains in effect.  Employers must still pay employees at least on a bi-weekly basis and cannot make an employee wait more than 30-days for their paycheck.

NEW FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE RIGHTS AND PAID SICK TIME

On March 18, 2020, the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFRCA) became law.  The law includes two new important provisions for Ohio workers: 1) an emergency expansion to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and 2) a new Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act that requires paid leave for employees forced to miss work because of the COVID-19 outbreak in certain circumstances:

EMERGENCY FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE EXPANSION ACT

• Applies to private employers with fewer than 500 employees and to all public employers that are covered by the FMLA regardless of size.
• An employee is eligible after he or she has been employed for at least 30 calendar days before the first day of the leave.
• Employees are entitled to 12 weeks of protected leave if the employee is unable to work (or telework) due to a need for leave to care for the son or daughter under 18 years of age of such employee if the school or place of care has been closed, or the child care provider of such son or daughter is unavailable, due to a public health emergency. A public health emergency means an emergency with respect to COVID-19 declared by a federal, state, or local authority.
• The first 2 weeks of leave are unpaid, but an employee may elect to substitute any accrued vacation leave, personal leave, or medical or sick leave for unpaid leave.
• After the first 2 weeks, leave is paid at two-thirds of the employee’s usual pay, with a cap of $200 per day. For employees with schedules that vary from week to week, a six-month average is to be used to calculate the number of hours to be paid. Employees who have worked for less than six months prior to leave are entitled to the employee’s reasonable expectation at hiring of the average number of hours the employee would normally be scheduled to work.
• The Secretary of Labor is empowered to issue regulations to exclude healthcare providers and emergency responders from the definition of employees who are allowed to take such leave, and to exempt small businesses with fewer than 50 employees if the required leave would jeopardize the viability of their business.

EMERGENCY PAID SICK LEAVE ACT

Requires private employers with fewer than 500 employees and public employers regardless of size to provide up to 80 hours of paid sick leave to employees on top of what the employer now provides (if any). This new paid sick time applies to employees who are unable to work, or telework, because the employee:

1. Is subject to a federal, state or local quarantine or isolation order.
2. Has been advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
3. Is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.
4. Is caring for an individual who is subject to a quarantine or isolation order or has been advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine as described above.
5. Is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care has been closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable due to COVID-19 precautions.
6. Is experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health & Human Services in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor.

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Fighting the ALJ’s Decision

Picture this: you have made your way through the long disability determination process. Finally, you have had a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). But unfortunately, the ALJ’s decision is not in your favor, and your claim was denied. You may find yourself asking- what now? At this point, Social Security gives you a couple of choices.

The ALJ Denied My Social Security Benefits – What Are My Options?

Option 1:

Your first option is to appeal the ALJ’s decision to the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council  is another component of the SSA, with its headquarters located in Falls Church, VA. The appeal must be filed within 60 days of the ALJ’s decision. You don’t get another hearing at this level. Rather, the Appeals Council will review the ALJ’s decision, the evidence in your claim file, and legal arguments submitted by your attorney in support of the appeal. The Appeals Council will then make a new decision.

The Appeals Council may uphold the ALJ’s decision and deny your claim again. Alternatively, it may reverse the ALJ’s decision and send your claim back to the ALJ with instructions to take another look at it. This is called a remand. Lastly, the Appeals Council may reverse the ALJ’s decision decision enitrely and award benefits to you directly. Because the Appeals Council handles appeals from ALJs all over the nation, it usually takes 12 to 18 months to receive a decision. For full details on the appeals process, you can check out the SSA’s website.

Option 2:

Your second option is to file a new application for benefits. Social Security no longer allows you to file an appeal and a new application at the same time, except under limited circumstances.

The best decision for you depends on several factors, including the strength of the evidence in your claim; whether you continue to be insured for the disability benefit; the ongoing state of your health; and of course any legal mistakes the ALJ may have made in denying your claim.

This decision is best made in consultation with a Social Security Disability Insurance Attorney who is familiar with your case and can advise you as to your options.

Originally published on December 2nd, 2015

Tags: Social Security
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What Does Onset Date Mean?

Simply put, an onset date is a date that you initially sustained an injury or became disabled. This is something that plays a significant role in your SSI approval and back pay amount and can make or break your Social Security Disability case. If you need assistance in determining your onset date you should consult with a reputable disability lawyer like those here at Barkan Meizlish LLP. 

Determining the onset date for a disability involves the consideration of your allegations, work history if any, and any medical and other evidence concerning the severity of your medical condition. There are two distinct onset date classifications that you need to understand when dealing with SSI disability. AOD, or alleged onset date, is the date you will provide the social security administration when applying for your benefits. The EOD, or established onset date, is the date in which the social security administration has established the start of your disability.

Alleged Onset Date

Your alleged onset date is the date that you submit to the SSA when filing your claim. This is very important as it will determine the amount of backpay you are eligible to receive up to a maximum of 12 months worth. If the Social Security Administration approves your AOD then you will receive back pay starting 5 months after your AOD, to the day your claim was approved. For example:

• AOD is 1/1/2019
• Claim accepted 8/1/2019
• You receive back pay between 6/1 and 8/1 of 2019.

Established Onset Date

If the Social Security Administration disagrees with your alleged onset date then they may instead opt for a new later EOD, or established onset date. This can only be done if they have sufficient medical evidence proving that your onset date is later than the AOD you submitted. On the other hand, if the AOD is accepted and approved it effectively becomes the new EOD.

Disputing EOD

If you feel that the SSA has cheated you of some back pay then you can dispute the established onset date through the DDS, or Disability Determination Services. Upon this, the DDS will review the EOD and determine whether or not it is going to be upheld. 

Disputing an EOD should not be taken lightly as it may trigger a review of the disability determination and could potentially trigger a complete revocation of the disability ruling.  

Another thing to keep in mind is that if the EOD is still more than 17 months before the initial SSI claim then you won’t be losing any backpay and should refrain from disputing the EOD altogether. To prevent losing your benefits over a discrepancy in AOD and EOD, you should consult with one of our Columbus disability lawyers at Barkan Meizlish LLP.

Disability Lawyer Columbus, Ohio

Filing for SSI disability is a complex task that should not be taken on alone. You have already dealt with enough from your injury and trying to take on the entire Social Security Administration without the help of a professional will only make things worse.

If you need assistance in determining your AOD or disputing an unfair EOD then you need to contact the trusted disability lawyers here at Barkan Meizlish LLP. We will walk you through every step of your claim and ensure you get the monthly compensation you deserve.

If you have any question about your disability onset, our Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security attorneys may be able to help. Give Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP a call today.

Originally published on May 13th, 2015.

Tags: Social Security
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To Our Clients, Co-Counsel, Defense Counsel, Friends and the Community:
 
At Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP, protecting the health and safety of our personnel and their families and servicing the needs of our clients is of the upmost importance. Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP is changing the way we do business while our communities, states and our nation deals with the global COVID-19 pandemic.  However, our commitment to providing outstanding client service remains unchanged.  

As of Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP will close its physical offices and transition to a work-from-home operation.  The following measures have been implemented: 

1. Attorneys and staff are equipped to work remotely with full access to client files; 

1. Protocols are in place to ensure the confidentiality, privacy and safety of all records and data; 

1. On a rotating basis, personnel will come to the office to pick up and scan mail to the appropriate attorneys and staff handling your case; 

1. Communications can occur with attorneys and staff via email, telephone and video conferencing;  

1. In-person appointments, check disbursements and meetings will occur on a case-by-case basis; and, 

1. Canceled all non-essential business travel for our attorneys and staff. 

Our Management Team is closely monitoring the updates from the Centers for Disease Control and the Ohio Department of Health.  We will adjust our policies as events unfold and further guidance is given from the relevant agencies handling this global COVID-19 pandemic.
Sincerely,

 The Team at Barkan Meizlish DeRose Wentz McInerney Peifer, LLP

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“A fair day’s pay for an honest day’s work,” is such an ancient principle that versions of it appear in the Bible and even earlier writings. The concept was enshrined in U.S law during the 1930s with adoption of the Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA, which mandates the payment of a minimum wage and eligibility for overtime pay. The general rule for most people is that they earn overtime after they work more 40 hours over the course of a single week.

For nearly 90 years, employers have violated the FLSA. They commit wage theft and refuse to pay overtime in many ways, including

• Misclassifying employees as independent contractors,
• Miscategorizing hourly workers as managers,
• Forcing people to work off the clock,
• Docking pay excessively for supplies and policy violations,
• Promising but never authorizing comp time leave instead of paying overtime,
• Stealing tips,
• Miscalculating tips as part of the hourly wage, and
• Telling tipped employees they are not eligible for overtime.

The good news is that the FLSA gives workers the right to report wage theft and unpaid overtime. The process of compelling an employer to hand over back pay and compensatory damages often seems daunting, which is why we make our services available as wage and hour attorneys in Ohio.

Know the Rules

During 2020, Ohio set the minimum wage for the majority of workers at $8.70 per hour. Tipped employees could legally be paid $4.35 per hour as long as their tips ensured they averaged a pay rate of at least $8.70 per hour. If the tips come in short, the employer must make up the difference.

Individuals who work for U.S. government agencies in Ohio are guaranteed only the federal minimum wage of $7.25. At all types of employers, people who get paid by the hour and earn less than $455 per week can earn overtime at a rate that starts at 1.5 times their usual hourly pay.

Exemptions apply to eligibility for the Ohio and federal wage and overtime rules, however. For instance, managers and independent contractors do not have rights to demand the minimum wage or overtime. Speaking with an employee rights attorney when an employer says you are not covered by the FLSA can help clarify your situation.

Keep Track and Ask Coworkers

Rules put in place for enforcing the FLSA allow workers to ask their managers and supervisors about hours, wages, and overtime. It is also legal for coworkers to talk to each other about what they are being paid and to compare pay stubs. Such discussions among coworkers can identify patterns of wage theft and unpaid overtime that provide grounds for a collective or class action lawsuit.

As employee rights attorneys, we understand that workers may hesitate to exercise these rights to ask about and advocate for fair pay. Retaliation from managers happens far too frequently. The thing to remember is that penalizing, bullying, or firing a worker for raising issues related to wages is also illegal and can serve as the basis for a lawsuit.

Act Fast and Know Where to Report Wage and Hour Violations

The statute of limitations on filing claims for wage theft and unpaid overtime is two years. The clock starts ticking on the day of the last violation. When a claim is filed, all past instances of unfair pay can be part of the complaint.

Individuals who work under the laws of Ohio must contact the Department of Commerce’s Division of Labor and Worker Safety. Federal employees file their complaints with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Division of Wages and Hours.

Working with an Ohio wage and hour attorney can make going through the process and holding an employer accountable easier. The lawyer will know how to prepare and submit paperwork, and also how to obtain the corporate records that are needed as evidence. Gaining access to those records will be particularly important for determining whether it makes sense to pursue a collective or class action lawsuit.

You can schedule an appointment with a Columbus employment attorney at Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP, by calling (614) 221-4221 or by connecting with us online. The initial consultation is free, and all communications with potential clients are kept strictly confidential.

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For some years now in Ohio, lawmakers have been working on a bill that would allow first responders to apply for workers’ compensation if they receive a PTSD diagnosis. The current legislature in Ohio states that in order to receive compensation for PTSD, a physical injury must also be present. This has historically prevented individuals, like first responders, who witness a traumatic event from receiving benefits despite having their lives impact and work inhibited. Several factors have caused push back on the bill for the last nine years. The anticipated increase in workers’ compensation costs by expanding the eligibility criteria has drawn skepticism, as well as fear of a snowball effect following the expanded guideline.

That all being said, this expansion would allow for many workers affected by PTSD to apply for potentially life-saving benefits. The bill passed in the House on February 12^th, 2020 and is scheduled for consideration in the Senate.

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Wrongfully Terminated in Ohio? Here Are the Steps to Take

Getting fired hurts. Losing your job creates financial problems and makes you doubt yourself. The pain is even worse if you believe you suffered a wrongful termination.

In Ohio, employers have broad discretion to fire workers for any reason or no reason at all, so long as the reason is not discriminatory. Valid reasons to let an employee go range from poor performance, policy and safety violations, economic considerations, to shifts in priorities that require different skills.

What employers cannot do, however, is fire you in retaliation for exercising your rights to receive fair pay or to work free from discrimination and abuse, or for specifically discriminatory reasons. When that happens, you may have grounds for filing a wrongful termination lawsuit and receiving monetary damages in Ohio. Although, it is important to note, you must have significant proof of the retaliation or discrimination.

Succeeding with a wrongful termination claim is not easy but taking the correct steps when you lose your job will set you on the proper path. Here are five things to do if you suspect your employer fired you illegally.

Do Not Lose Your Cool

No matter how good it feels at the moment, cursing out your boss and threatening to sue will not serve you well in the long run. We understand that remaining calm may be a struggle, especially if you have suffered harassment and other forms of unfair treatment leading up to the final notice of your firing. But you will want to resist any urge to create a scene.

If you file a wrongful termination lawsuit in Ohio, your former employer can cite threatening behavior or damage to equipment as valid reasons for ending your time with the company. Do not give them an excuse that a court could accept.

Ask for an Official Termination Notice

You have the right to know why you are being fired. Also, a company facing a wrongful termination claim must explain why it took what the court will call the adverse employment action.

Getting the stated reason for your termination in writing allows you and your Ohio employment law attorney to build a case for why that reason does not make sense. It may also turn out that the company gives a different reason during the trial then it did when it wrote your termination letter. Calling attention to the shifting explanation can work in your favor.

Save Emails and Texts Related to Your Firing

If you see your wrongful termination coming, forward harassing emails and texts to your personal accounts, keep notes of when and how conversations that you feel are inappropriate occur. Make sure to save performance reviews And other information that reflects well on you as an employee.

Additionally, take notes on threatening or abusive conversations, and keep track of demotions or reassignments that strike you as unfair or done to convince you to quit. All this information can be used to support your wrongful termination claim.

Learn What Justifies a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit in Ohio

Employers cannot fire an employee if the principal reason for doing so is one or more the following:

• Discrimination based on the employee’s race, national origin, sex, religion, genetic profile, or age if older than 40
• Discrimination based on the employee’s known or suspected disability
• Requests from the employee for the accommodation of a disability
• Use of available Family and Medical Leave Act leave by the employee
• Military service by the employee
• Pregnancy or childbirth for the employee
• Retaliation against the employee for reporting or participating in the investigation of discrimination or retaliation
• Reporting safety problems
• Reporting violations of laws and regulations
• Engaging in union or labor organizing activities

Speak With an Ohio Wrongful Termination Lawyer

If you recognize your situation in the list above, it is time to meet with a Columbus wrongful termination attorney and discuss your legal options. Do not wait long. Several different employee rights laws can be cited in wrongful termination lawsuits, and each has a short statute of limitations.

At Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP, we offer free, confidential, no-pressure consultations to victims of wrongful termination throughout Ohio. Call us at (614) 221-4221 to learn if we can help you. You can also schedule an appointment online.

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The World and Your Private Images are at Your Fingertips…and Everyone Else’s

In today’s technology focused society, almost everyone carries a weapon in their pocket —their smart phones. The exchange of a phone number, formally the key to communication, is virtually and literally no longer necessary. Social media apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, connect individuals across the globe without any formal information exchange. This makes sharing, posting, and interacting as simple as one touch on a screen. While there are certainly many ways that social media benefits people globally- bringing them together, making activism easier, and bridging oceans and languages- comes an equal number of potential harmful behaviors.

What is Doxing?

With the simple tap of a screen, a smartphone can go from a communication device into a weapon. The dissemination of personal information- social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, passwords, employer, work location- without an individual’s consent is called ‘doxing‘.

Doxing has become an increasingly common online victimization tactic. Doxing is commonly used against individuals with online presences, such as influencers or politicians, but is not limited to public figures. It has become increasingly commonplace to meet people who have been the victims of doxing either by vindictive exes or simply a person with an intent to harm or complicate someone’s life. Victims of doxing are, unfortunately, often the targets of an additionally hateful crime that ruins lives: revenge porn.

What is Revenge Porn?

While pornography itself is not a new concept, the mass distribution of pornography via digital platforms is constantly evolving. Camera phones have made taking sexually explicit images increasingly easy and common among all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Sending and receiving these images is as normalized for many young people who have grown up with access to this technology, much like the prior generations’ ability to pass a note in the hallway. Many of these exchanges are consensual when they begin. There is an often unspoken agreement that these images are only meant for the original recipient. Once the relationship sours, the potential for revenge porn increases.

Revenge Porn or Non-consensual Pornography is a broad categorization of criminal and non-consensual distribution of sexually explicit content. The term was popularized in the early part of the last decade, when activists such as activist Charlotte Laws and attorney Carrie Goldberg  began using their public platforms to educate the public on these types of crime.

As of today, 45 states, D.C., and one U.S. territory have revenge porn laws. The passing of such laws has been a concerted effort among activists. This an amazing first step for victims of revenge porn. However, it is only the start. Many of these statutes are intentionally vague due to fear of conflict with the First Amendment. Cases are often not actively pursued by law enforcement without direct advocacy. The fight to protect victims of revenge and non-consensual pornography is ongoing. It will continue to be fought until the proper protections are put in place for victims.

What Can I Do if I Am the Victim of Revenge Porn? Are There Protections for Me?

In Ohio, R.C. § 2917.211, Non-consensual dissemination of private images, makes it illegal for someone to distribute images of another person when:

1. The person in the image is 18 or older;
2. The person in the image can be identified, either from the image itself or the context in which the image was disseminated;
3. The person is nude or engaged in a sexual act;
4. The image is disseminated without the person’s consent;
5. and with intent to harm.

Thus, R.C. § 2917.211 makes sending illicit, sexual imagery of a person over the age of 18 with harmful intent a misdemeanor, with varying penalties depending on whether the violator is a repeat offender.

Also, in Ohio R.C. § 2307.66 gives victims of  non-consensual dissemination of private images a civil cause of action, meaning the right to sue the individual for damages. The damages include any of the following:

• An injunction or temporary restraining order prohibiting further dissemination of the image;
• Compensatory and punitive damages;
• That the offender pays the victim’s reasonable attorneys’ fees; and/or
• That the offender covers the court costs incurred by the victim in bringing the civil action.

An important inclusion in this statute is  “the victim shall be presumed to have suffered harm as a result of the non-consensual dissemination.” This means the damage caused by any violation of R.C. § 2917.211 is automatically assumed if it is upheld as a violation in court. This allows victims the opportunity to seek damages without “proof” of the harm caused by the dissemination of the illicit images.

Who Can I Ask for Help?

Speaking with an attorney can help you determine what your rights are. It can also help you understand any exceptions that may disqualify you from pursuing any potential damages claim. Laws such as these help victims of doxing and revenge porn fight for justice. These types of crimes have become a worldwide phenomenon and creating protections to fight for victims is crucial.  To speak with an attorney about your situation, call Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP at (800)-274-5297 or send us an email at info@barkanmeizlish.com.

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My Employer Didn’t Pay Me Correctly but I Can’t Afford an Attorney, Now What?

Have you ever worked somewhere that didn’t pay you on time, or didn’t pay your wages properly? If yes, you probably talked about it with a friend or family member who suggested you pursue legal action. Your response may have been that you couldn’t afford a FLSA attorney, you didn’t have the time to pursue it, or that the time and cost it would take wouldn’t be worth it since it wasn’t THAT big of a deal. If you’ve ever been the victim of wage theft, you may have found yourself in this difficult position. The big question facing most victims of wage theft is- is pursuing this legally worth the money that I lost?

You are not alone in this experience. Fortunately, this does not have to be your reality and there are attorneys that will help you with no cost out of pocket to you!

Under the federal law, 29 U.S.C.sec216(b), recovery of attorney’s fee is a required aspect of a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violation claim. In simpler terms, this means when a successful FLSA claim is filed, the Court can make it the employer’s responsibility to pay for the cost of your attorney’s services. This is incredibly important for victims of wage theft and other violations of the FLSA to be aware of, as it can be the deciding factor for many who are on the fence about pursuing legal action.

What Does This Mean for Me?

As the victim of wage theft, these rules and guidelines help ensure that even the most seemingly harmless cases (emphasis on ‘seemingly’) are taken seriously by the American legal system. Often, the monetary value of a wage theft complaint is less than the potential cost of legal assistance for resolving the issue. This shifting of the attorney fees from the employee to the employer in wage theft cases is meant to eliminate the issue that may deter employees from pursuing legal action. With the federal minimum wage set at $7.25, many hourly employees are not capable of retaining legal counsel, and the fee shifting structure of the law eliminates that concern. The FLSA allows employees an opportunity to fight against an employer who has done them wrong, no matter how small the amount of wages stolen. However, it is also important to note that the statute necessities that a plaintiff receive a judgement in their favor, rather than the employers favor, for the fee-shifting to be upheld by a court.

Okay, I Want to Take My Claim to Court

Hopefully, this information has given you some peace of mind and let you know the most important part of all of this: you deserve to be treated fairly by your employer. Your next step is to contact an attorney and discuss your case. The Paycheck Warriors at Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP are here to help. Send us an email at info@barkanmeizlish.com or give us a call at (800)-274-5297 for more information.

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Modified Mentalities:

If you were on YouTube in the early half of the last decade, you may remember Neil Harbisson’s incredible Ted Talk “I listen to color.” For those who do not recall, Harbisson discusses his cranial implant and its associated external antenna. The implant processes color and turns them into sound waves within his skull. Having lived his whole live colorblind, Harbisson went from seeing grey scale to processing color in a way only made possible by technology.

All of this is to say that there has been an active venture to technologically modify humans for some time. It should come as no surprise that employers have tried to utilize this fascinating trend to appeal to a hip and young pool of prospective employees, and potentially exert control over them in an unprecedented way in years to come.

Blurring Boundaries:

An article published on February 3^rd, 2020 by marketwatch.com outlined the proposed legislature in the state of Indiana that would ban employers from requiring their employees to receive mandatory microchip implants. While it seems like actual cases of employers expecting their employees to receive these small, sub-dermal implants, it is an important discussion to be having in 2020. In the discussion surrounding the benefits of micro-chipping employees on a voluntary (for now) basis, there seems to be a reoccurring focus on productivity—simplify your employee’s life, improve their work ethic. It is impossible to overlook the statistics that show the contrary.

In a world where your employer is quite literally under your skin, how can employees take time for themselves or remove the potential stress of feeling on-the-clock 24/7? A recent op-ed featured in Bloomberg focused on the “always on” mentality many workers feel they cannot switch off, leading to burn out and lowered productivity. The answer to employee burnout and dissatisfaction, then, seems to be a focus on intentional away time from work rather than an increased presence in employee’s day-to-day life.

Expectations Vs. Reality:

The federal minimum wage has remained $7.25 since 2009, and yet employers continue expect more and more of their workers. In the current gig economy, many workers are left scraping together what they can from freelance or independent contracting work, desperately waiting for a full-time opportunity to take the burden of gig work off their shoulders. While many states have taken preventative action and outlawed mandatory microchip implants for employees, many people are still left questioning just how far an employer may be willing to go for their companies’ best interest. These sorts of changes will continue to challenge the current state of labor and employment law, and we must constantly be adapting to prepare ourselves for these upcoming challenges.

If you have any concerns about your employers’ treatment of their employees, give us a call today at 800-274-5297.

Mara Siegel is the Marketing Director at Barkan Meizlish DeRose Wentz McInerney Peifer, LLP.

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