Age discrimination is workplace bias based on age, and in the U.S. the ADEA protects workers age 40 and older. It can include hiring, firing, pay, promotions, or harassment tied to age stereotypes. This article explains what it is, key examples, and what to do if you suspect age-based unfair treatment. Understanding Age Discrimination in […]
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What is pay equity?
Pay equity means employees are paid fairly for work of comparable value, regardless of gender, race, or other protected traits. It looks beyond identical job titles to compare roles with similar skills, effort, responsibility, and working conditions. This article explains pay equity vs. equal pay and how comparable-worth comparisons work. Pay equity means that employees […]
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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