Villaume & Schiek, P.A. Legal Blog

Disparate Employment Actions: What is the Four Fifths Rule?

Federal agencies that are responsible for enforcing equal employment laws and civil rights have several ways they can evaluate the impacts of adverse job actions and disparate treatment on both individuals and groups. Individual concerns may be easy to evaluate by comparing job actions to peers; when systems are large and complex, however, finding the truth about how employees are being treated is more…

5 Steps To Take When Offered a Severance/Separation Package

Minnesota Employment Law Attorney Have you ever been offered a severance or separation package? If so, you probably know how this can be devastating and especially when you’ve been at a company for many years. When this occurs, it’s critical that you stay calm and make the right choices even if your employer is pressuring you to sign the agreement.…

When Might I Need the Services of an Employment Attorney?

You may feel like you have been discriminated at work on wrongfully terminated, or some other situation that has adversely affected your employment. Your first instinct is probably to speak with an employment attorney before making any next steps, but how can they help? WHAT DOES AN EMPLOYMENT LAWYER DO? Employment lawyers represent employees in filing complaints and lawsuits in…

Minnesota Workplace Harassment Lawyers

Though you deserve a safe and friendly work environment, there are times when your employer and other employees can make your place of employment uncomfortable and stressful. You can’t always do anything about it (other than move on). However, there are times when you may feel singled out due to your identity. If you are being harassed due to your…

9 Basic Teachers’ Rights and Employment Laws

If you’re a teacher, you know how your profession is exceptionally demanding, besides stressful and time-consuming. Today, teaching can be even more challenging than decades ago as discipline continues to be a problem. When confronting challenges that can affect the quality of your work performance, it’s important you know your rights as a teacher. Here are nine fundamental teachers’ rights…

Receiving SSDI Benefits if You Become Disabled in Minnesota

Becoming disabled can quickly turn your life upside down. If you cannot work, then you cannot pay your bills. Luckily, you might qualify to collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to cover your expenses if you become disabled. What is SSDI? Funded through payroll taxes, SSDI is a government program administered by the Social Security Administration.  It “insures” employees who have…

What’s A Non-Compete Agreement?

People get a lot of papers to sign when they first hire on with a company. You may, however, be surprised when your new employer presents you with a non-compete agreement, sometimes called a restrictive covenant, as part of the hiring process. Here are a few things you should know about these types of agreements. Non-compete Agreements/Restrictive Covenants These can…

Are You Owed Overtime Backpay? How to Know if Your Employer has Misclassified You As ‘Exempt’

Minnesota Employment Law Attorneys Thousands of workers across the US are being underpaid in the guise of holding respected positions. And you may be one of them. Employment law is a complicated set of rules that were written to ensure that US employees are treated fairly by their employers. But with all our regulations and rules, some employer still find…

Guidelines for Finding the Right Employment Law Attorney

If you’ve ever had to find an employment law attorney, you know how stressful this decision can be because not having the right person to represent you can affect your financial security. Since there are a multitude of employment law attorneys from which to choose, making the correct choice can be difficult if you don’t know what to ask or…