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Warn Act Notification Document with Gavel

What is a WARN Act?

The WARN Act is a U.S. federal law that generally requires covered employers with 100 or more employees to provide 60 days’ written notice before certain mass layoffs or plant closings. It’s designed to give workers and local communities time to prepare, though exceptions and state “mini-WARN” laws may change the analysis. This article explains […]
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Employee Receiving Severance Check from Employer

What is severance pay?

Severance pay is money an employer may provide when ending an employee’s job, often calculated as a set amount such as one to two weeks’ pay per year of service, though no single formula applies. Whether you’re entitled to it depends on your contract, company policy, and any applicable federal, state, or local laws. This […]
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Employee Packing Desk Items While Boss Points to Exit

What is constructive dismissal?

Constructive dismissal occurs when an employer makes a worker’s job so intolerable—or fundamentally changes key terms like pay, duties, or hours—that the employee is effectively forced to resign and can treat it as a termination. It’s a legal concept that may entitle the employee to notice, severance, or other remedies despite quitting. This article explains […]
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Wrongful Termination Concept with Gavel and Documents

What is wrongful termination?

Wrongful termination is when an employer illegally fires you—for example, for discrimination, retaliation, or refusing to break the law. It can violate federal or state statutes, public policy, or an employment contract, even in “at-will” workplaces. This article explains the most common grounds for wrongful termination, warning signs and evidence to gather, deadlines to act, […]
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Workers Protesting with Picket Signs During a Labor Strike

What is a strike?

A strike is a coordinated work stoppage by employees to pressure an employer during a labor dispute, typically over wages, hours, or working conditions. In the U.S., most strikes are governed by the National Labor Relations Act, but rules and protections vary by worker type, union status, and whether the strike is economic or tied […]
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Workers Holding Protest Signs at a Union Rally

What is a union?

A union is an organization of workers that negotiates with an employer for better pay, benefits, and working conditions through collective bargaining. In the U.S., unions are governed largely by the National Labor Relations Act, which protects many employees’ rights to organize and act together. This article explains what unions are, how they work, key […]
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Workers and Management Negotiating at Conference Table

What is collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining is the legal process where employees, usually through a union, negotiate with an employer over wages, benefits, schedules, and working conditions, typically resulting in a binding collective bargaining agreement (CBA). In the U.S., most private‑sector collective bargaining is governed by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). This article explains how collective bargaining works, […]
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Person Reviewing Unemployment Insurance Documents

What is unemployment insurance?

Unemployment insurance (UI) is a state-run program that replaces part of your wages if you lose your job through no fault of your own and meet eligibility rules. In most states, UI is funded by employer payroll taxes and requires ongoing certification that you’re able, available, and actively seeking work. This article explains how UI […]
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Whistleblower Shielded by Protective Legal Umbrella

What is whistleblower protection?

Whistleblower protection refers to laws that shield employees from retaliation—such as firing, demotion, or harassment—when they report illegal or unsafe conduct. These protections can apply to internal complaints, reports to government agencies, or participation in investigations, depending on the statute and the facts. This article explains what qualifies as whistleblowing, which laws may protect you, […]
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Business Professional Blowing Whistle in Office

What is a whistleblower?

A whistleblower is someone who reports illegal, unethical, or unsafe conduct—often within their workplace—to a supervisor or a government agency. In the U.S., many whistleblowers are protected by federal and state laws against retaliation, and some may qualify for financial awards in certain cases. This article explains what counts as whistleblowing, common examples, key legal […]
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Employee Classification Comparison Chart

What is employee misclassification?

Employee misclassification occurs when an employer wrongly classifies a worker as an independent contractor instead of an employee, denying wage, tax, and benefit protections. This can trigger back pay, unpaid overtime, tax liabilities, and penalties under federal and state law. This article explains the contractor vs employee tests, common red flags, and legal options for […]
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Independent Contractor Working on Laptop at Home

What is an independent contractor?

An independent contractor is a self-employed person or business hired under a contract (typically paid on a 1099) rather than treated as an employee. They control how and when the work is done and may serve multiple clients at once. This article explains the key differences from employees, including pay, taxes, and legal responsibilities. An […]
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