Detroit Employment Law Blog

When presented with an employment contract, you want nothing more than to give it a quick glance, sign on the dotted line and get started in your new position.

While you hope that everything checks out, don't assume that the contract will suit your every requirement. There are red flags to watch for, including the following:

• Noncompete clause: This can limit your ability to get another job at a competing company or in the same industry, should you decide to move on in the future. It can also make it difficult, if not impossible, to start your own company in the same space.
• Compensation clause: Make sure you're clear of when and how you'll receive compensation. For example, if you negotiated a deferred bonus, make sure it's included in your employment contract.
• Creative provisions: For example, if you secure a patent during your employment, your contract should outline whether it belongs to you or your employer. If you're not comfortable with this provision, you need to work it out before signing the contract. It's not something you should try to negotiate in the future.

Michigan begin the era of anti-discrimination at the forefront of the nation. The Civil Rights Act passed in Lansing in 1976, banning discrimination based on religion, color, gender and a variety of other protected attributes. But many activists have said the Wolverine State did not go far enough, and 2020 may be the year that this mission is accomplished.

A coalition of advocates, including business leaders and legislators, have begun the process of getting a ballot measure in the 2020 election that would let voters decide to add a clause against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The group has until May 27 to gather more than 300,000 signatures from Michigan voters in order to present the measure on the ballot this year.

A government service is not serving the citizens that it was designed to help. A product could pose a danger to the people who use it and bring it into their homes. A car lacks a safety feature that could save lives. There are many reasons that a person could feel the need to report a problem, and there are sadly many ways a person could pay for that decision.

But the employees who try to protect the citizens and consumers of Michigan deserve the right to speak their truths. In a move dating back to the discovery of dangerous public water in Flint and other cities in the Wolverine State, lawmakers are seeking more whistleblower protections in the state law books with a new bill.

Searching for a new job is stressful, even when unemployment is low, and you may find a new position quickly. One thing you may be concerned about is how a potential employer will react if a company knows you have a mental health condition, such as depression, PTSD or bipolar disorder. Will that stop you from being hired? 

Mental health and legal protection

First, mental health conditions are protected under the American Disabilities Act (ADA). That means no employer can discriminate against hiring you simply because you have a mental health condition. If you can perform the job, with reasonable accommodations, you are protected against facing any harassment, job loss or not being hired or promoted.