There are certain rights that workers in Michigan expect to have in the workplace, and the law seeks to protect these rights. This applies to a wide variety of issues, too. Employee rights encompasses freedom from illegal workplace discrimination, unfair denial of benefits, protection for retaliation, and more. Those who have had their rights violated, been deprived of income, or even been terminated because of protestations that illegal acts perpetrated against them have the right to pursue compensation via a legal filing.
To serve as an example, a woman who worked for a local big-box retailer has filed a lawsuit alleging that she did not receive the proper accommodations to use a breast pump as she was breastfeeding her child. The woman states that the company did not provide her with a location to do what was necessary and was forced to use a bathroom and later a computer server room. The latter had a surveillance camera located inside. She seeks more than $25,000 in her case. In addition, she asserts that she was discriminated against based on her gender, her privacy was violated, and there was intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The woman began working as a clerk at the store in July of 2013. Three months earlier, she had given birth to a baby girl. She informed her bosses that she needed a place to pump her breast milk. She was first told that she could use a conference room, but it was not always available when she needed it. If she had trouble finding another place to express, she would return to her duties late and be docked in her pay. Federal law states that employers are required to have a place for employees who are lactating to express their milk.
As this case exhibits, there are numerous different ways in which an employer can violate the law with regard to their treatment of their employees. Those who are confronted with this unfair treatment or something that is clearly a violation of their rights need to understand that they have recourse through the legal process. Discussing the matter with an experienced legal professional can provide information pertinent is deciding whether to file a legal claim.
Source: The Detroit Free Press, “Ex-employee sues Meijer over breastfeeding dispute,” Zlati Meyer, July 13, 2016
