When you join a new company, you're likely to receive an employee handbook. This provides a variety of information, all of which could pertain to you now or at some point in the future.
Things to review in your employee handbook
How many bathroom breaks are you allowed to take?
As an employee, you have a variety of legal rights. For example, you're permitted to take bathroom breaks throughout the day. However, it's important to do so within reason.
Working off the clock is illegal: Don't give in
Working off the clock is exactly what it sounds like. This is work that isn't compensated and is not counted toward your hours for overtime purposes.
The Family and Medical Leave Act: Requesting a leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is designed to protect an employee who needs to take a leave of absence to bond with a new child, receive treatment for a personal illness or care for an injured or sick family member.
Reasons why unemployment benefits might be denied
Unemployment benefits can help those who have lost their jobs pay for the bills and get back on their feet until they acquire a new job. Not every person is entitled to unemployment benefits, which means that you very well could be denied these benefits should you ever lose your job. Today, we will take a look at the reasons why you could be denied unemployment benefits.
Explaining the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
In 1974, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was enacted by the United States government. This piece of legislation offers guidelines and requirements that employers, insurance companies and employees can follow when it comes to administering employee benefit plans. ERISA does not cover any plans offered to employees of churches or health plans offered by government agencies. Let's look at a specific amendment to ERISA.
Whistleblower retaliation: Take these steps
Although it's not the ideal situation, if you come across wrongdoing at your place of employment, you may realize that it's your duty to blow the whistle on your employer.
Are you entitled to severance pay?
There are situations in which an employer is not required by law to provide a terminated employee with severance pay. However, there are also situations in which you may be entitled to this compensation.
New Jersey marijuana bill addresses employees' rights
It appears that New Jersey will soon be among the states where marijuana is legal for recreational use. Democratic leaders in the New Jersey Senate and Gov. Phil Murphy reached an agreement on a revised draft of the bill this week. It's scheduled to be voted on in committee next week and to be considered by both houses on March 25.
How you can claim unpaid overtime wages
There are protections in place under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for employees who are categorized as non-exempt. These protections say that non-exempt employees are to be paid at a rate of 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour that they work over 40 in the span of a work week. Here are some tips for claiming unpaid overtime wages in New Jersey.
