Starting in March of this year, non-union construction workers in Michigan who work on publicly funded projects for the state or a locality must receive the same pay and benefits as their co-workers who belong to unions. This is called the “prevailing wage.” The law...
Detroit Employment Law Blog
Harassment of women in male-dominated industries
In male-dominated industries, women frequently confront a challenging reality marked by the prevalence of workplace harassment. This environment, skewed by a significant gender imbalance, often fosters a culture where inappropriate behaviors are either subtly endorsed...
What is weight discrimination in the workplace?
Weight discrimination involves treating individuals unfairly based on their weight, often resulting in negative consequences for their employment status or opportunities. This form of bias can manifest in various ways, from hiring decisions to workplace policies....
Understanding ageism in the workplace
Ageism is the practice of treating someone less favorably due to their age. Ageism may affect everyone, but in Western societies where youth is highly valued, older people are particularly vulnerable when it comes to adverse consequences associated with this form of...
Recognizing workplace retaliation
Reporting your company's illegal or unethical activities takes a lot of courage. Many employees would be reluctant to do it out of fear of retaliation. Most employers know that harassing a company whistleblower is illegal. Therefore, their approach may be more...
Expansion of Michigan civil rights law takes effect next February
Michigan employees benefit from some of the more progressive legal rights in the country. Now, even more Michiganders are gaining legal protections from discrimination based on who they are. This past March, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill into law that...
3 things to know about Michigan’s CROWN Act
Michigan has followed some other states in providing specific protections for employees and students from discrimination based on their hair type and hairstyles. The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, which is better known as the CROWN Act...
Even nonprofit organizations discriminate against some workers
According to current federal law, as well as certain statutes in Michigan, it is illegal for businesses to discriminate against people for certain reasons. Certain factors, like relevant criminal records, work history and education can influence employment decisions....
Could downsizing be a form of discrimination?
Downsizing is when a company lets employees go as a cost-cutting measure. Perhaps revenue has fallen and the owner knows they just can’t afford all of the employees they have on staff. It is legal for them to terminate some of these positions as they try to redo their...
Obstacles for women seeking management roles
Employers today typically claim to be free from discrimination and prejudice. All employees and applicants should have equal access to training and opportunities. Nonetheless, despite women making up half of the workforce the number of women in senior management...