In Minnesota, employment background checks are considered serious business. Why? Because there are so many ways to unfairly use the power to background check against employees. Often to reinforce hiring biases or to deny jobs based on non-work-related details. In fact, the laws about when and how a Minnesota employer can run an employment background check and what decisions they…
Federal laws and state laws are put in place to stop employers from discriminating against a job candidate or a current employee because of the following: race gender religion sexual orientation gender identity pregnancy physical or other disability age While one may think the above types of discrimination were once a thing of the past, that is not the case.…
Agreements that restrict employees from participating in competitive activities and adjuration of company business during one’s time of employment and after employment have been commonplace in Minnesota. These agreements can be universal in many industries. While many Minnesota employees may view non-compete agreements as troublesome, employers view it is a practical way to protect the business they have established. Non-compete agreements can…
You may have heard someone say that getting an approval for disability benefits in Minnesota is hard. You may have also heard that many people have had their applications denied by the Social Security Administration(SSA), at least after the first application. When you view the statistics, those stats will show that the majority of first-time applications are denied. However, there…
At Villaume & Schiek, we have represented a significant number of employees and we are always ready and prepared to hold an employer accountable for the actions that have taken place. We understand what it takes to handle issues that take place in the workplace. We know how important it is for our clients to be rightfully compensated for any illegal…
Your Impairments & Functionality The ability to function physically or mentally is the biggest factor in determining the extent of your disability. While Social Security lists impairments in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Volume 20, Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Part 404 listing of Impairments, not all disabilities will fall into one of these categories. Primarily, if your…
Unless you have been living under a rock or spending hours upon hours binge-watching your favorite TV show, the chances are high that you have heard of the term whistleblower. However, you may not be completely sure what it means to be a whistleblower. An employee who comes forward to uncover any information or any type of activity that the person honestly believes…
Several cases have been decided by the Supreme Court this year, and many of those cases have had an impact on the rights of employees. A few months ago, we talked about the rights and employment protections for LGBTQ employees. There have been several Supreme Court decisions that have impacted the rights of employees of religious organizations. Religious Employers and Health Insurance…
The Minnesota Human Rights Act makes it illegal for employers to discriminate based upon race, disability, sex, or a number of other factors. Unfortunately, many employers still continue to make hiring and promotion decisions based upon one’s membership in a protected class. If you’ve been discriminated against, contact the Law Offices of Villaume & Schiek. What Does Employment Discrimination Look Like? Discrimination…
Generally, when someone has several years’ worth of experience in a particular job field, an employer will view that person as someone who can add value to the workplace. These are the people who have a clear understanding of how the business works and what it will take to be a success. Also, they will also know who to reach…