As Detroit's electricians know, working with electricity requires extreme caution. Electrocution is deadly. Short of that is electric shock, which is not fatal but can cause serious health problems, burns and other symptoms. After experiencing an electric shock...
Employee And Union Rights
Employee And Union Rights
Year: 2020
What actions employers can’t take when employees seek to unionize
Earlier this month, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint about activities by management at Google. The company, owned by Alphabet Inc., allegedly took actions to suppress and deter workers from unionizing. It also fired several employees in...
Once approved, when do Social Security Disability benefits start?
You may have heard that it takes a long time to get Social Security Disability benefits. This is, unfortunately, true in many cases. The process of determining that you have a qualifying, permanent disability can be long. If your claim is initially denied, you can ask...
Can men be fired when they have children?
“You shouldn’t have a kid,” said Steven’s co-worker at Disney. He wasn’t the only one to comment. When Steven returned from his two weeks of paternity leave, he was fired. He sued, but a federal court dismissed his case. The reason? The court said the firing didn’t...
What’s the point of the workers’ compensation system?
If you are injured or sickened at work, you generally have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Before 1912, you would have had to sue your employer for negligence. This was costly and uncertain. Workers who lost their negligence suits had no recourse. When...
Working in a warehouse could be more dangerous than you think
Recently, Reveal magazine from the Center for Investigative Reporting published a report about the safety crisis at Amazon warehouses. Amazon has made its warehouses as efficient as possible, even using robots to speed up picking and production. Amazon advertises its...
Study: Wage theft increases during recession
Many Americans have struggled over the past several months due to the coronavirus pandemic as millions have lost their jobs, businesses have shuttered, and many families face eviction as they are unable to make rent or mortgage payments. A new study says many of those...
How can ABLE accounts help Michigan residents meet disability-related expenses?
If you have a disability, you may be interested in opening an ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account. These are intended to help people with disabilities and those who care for them to save so they can pay for disability-related expenses. When you’re living...
Construction falls the leading cause of work comp ‘mega claims’
A recent report on the prevalence of “mega claims” in the workers’ compensation system revealed that, nationwide, such claims are at a 12-year high. A mega claim is one that reaches a minimum threshold of $3 million, $5 million or $10 million, depending on the...
Study: Firefighters can be exposed to cancer-causing PAHs
Previous research has shown that firefighters face an increased risk of cancer and other health problems, but it hasn’t been clear what they are being exposed to. Now, a study led by Oregon State University has found that on-duty firefighters experience higher...