| Unemployment Compensation Overview |
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| All states provide compensation to unemployed workers under certain circumstances. Generally, states require employers to contribute to an unemployment compensation fund for all employees. When benefits are sought, payment is made to eligible former employees from the fund. Most states exempt charitable or non-profit organizations from unemployment compensation coverage. They also exclude employers that have a very small number of employees. Furthermore, in order to be covered by unemployment compensation, a worker must be an actual "employee" and not merely an independent contractor. More... |
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| Unemployment Benefits - Protest - Voluntary Leaving |
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| One basis of protest that disqualifies the claimant from eligibility for receiving unemployment benefits occurs when the claimant quit the job voluntarily by leaving without good cause. The unemployment system was designed to insure or compensate workers for wages they lost due to lack of work as a result of the general economic conditions or other reasons and not due to any fault of their own. All states, therefore, have provisions disqualifying a worker who left his employment voluntarily and without a good cause for doing so. More... |
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| The Equal Pay Act of 1963 |
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| In 1963, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act in an effort to equalize the largely disparate pay received by men and women who were performing the same job. The Act was an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Under the Act, Congress specifies that employers may not discriminate on the basis of sex by paying women less than men, and vice versa, when they are performing "equal work." The Act predates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Although the functions of the two Acts overlap, the Equal Pay Act remains in full force. More... |
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| Labor Unions |
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| Many claims of breach of the duty of fair representation stem from a labor union's refusal to pursue a grievance on behalf of a union member. Despite the prohibition of invidious or hostile discrimination in representing its members, labor unions have significant leeway in the way they represent their members, including the handling of grievances. A union has the discretion to determine whether a grievance of one of its members is in fact meritorious or not. Dissatisfied union members whose unions have decided adversely to the members as to the merit of their grievances may bring lawsuits against the union for breach of the duty of fair representation. More... |
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| What is a Disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990? |
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| Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to protect persons with physical or mental disabilities from discrimination. Under the Act, a person is "disabled" if he or she has a ''a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.'' Although several other requirements must be met before a disabled employee is protected under the Act, the establishment of a disability is the first step. More... |
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