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Federal Workers: What Now?

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If you are a federal worker, first things first: You’re not crazy. What’s happening is completely bizarro-land.

            Now that we’ve got that clear, what do you do?

The lawyer answer (sorry) is: It Depends. The reality is that tons and tons of these terminations are illegal, but there are different ways they may be illegal.

For example, career civil service workers – even probationary employees – are protected by merit systems principles, which include protection from “arbitrary action, personal favoritism, or coercion for partisan political purposes.” 5 U.S.C. § 2301(b)(8). (That’s a federal statute right there btw, not some loosy-goosy theory about fair treatment. It’s the actual law.) Because of this requirement, there are procedures that agencies have to follow when they are terminating a bunch of people to cut costs, otherwise known as a Reduction In Force or “RIF.” RIFs are governed by a procedure for making sure that terminations are made based on merit system factors, for example, examination of performance ratings and length of service. 5 U.S.C. §3502. Federal employees who are getting RIF’d are supposed to get 60 days’ notice and information about rights to reemployment and career transition assistance before the termination goes into effect.

Additionally, many Federal employees are union members, and as such have additional protections including a statute that requires a union contract to provide grievance procedures. 5 U.S.C. §1721(a)(1). Another source of protection is in the federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination, such as Title VII, Rehabilitation Act (prohibiting disability discrimination), and Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

            What to do?

OK first, re-read the first sentence of this article. This is legit Wacky-land and you are legit encountering stuff that could have been dreamed up by Salvadore Dali. Or Kafka.

Second, call your union. As of the writing of this article, an AI-assisted search (so take this with a grain of salt) states that there are currently 101 class actions involving federal workers. Your union will know if you’re part of one of these. If you’re not, see if there are other ways your union can help you, such as filing a grievance.

If you’re not union, or if the union can’t help with your particular situation, get hold of a reputable workplace lawyer. For sure it’s expensive. This is your livelihood.

Whatever you do, don’t just assume there’s nothing you can do. There are super-talented, intelligent people fighting for your rights. Make sure they know your situation so they can help you plan your next step.

It’s (Probably) Not Wrongful Termination If You’re Not Terminated.

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Employees who feel they are about to be fired for illegal reasons sometimes choose to quit, thinking it will spare them the embarrassment of being terminated. In other cases, employers might try to avoid firing an employee by making the workplace so hostile that the employee feels forced to resign.

What many employees don’t realize is that quitting can cost them the opportunity to file a wrongful termination case against their employer. To pursue a wrongful termination claim, you must prove that you were actually terminated.

In New York State, a wrongful termination claim requires the employee to demonstrate the following:

  1. They are part of a recognized protected class.
  2. They were qualified for the position in question.
  3. They were discharged.
  4. Their discharge occurred under circumstances that suggest the motivation for the termination was prohibited by law.

However, if you voluntarily quit your job, you may lose your ability to pursue a wrongful termination claim. That’s because you can no longer demonstrate that you were discharged, which is a necessary element of the claim. In most cases, if you’re not terminated, you cannot claim wrongful termination.

Additionally, only a small percentage of individuals who quit their jobs will meet the requirements to successfully bring a constructive discharge lawsuit. Proving a constructive discharge case is difficult, and it’s often challenging to demonstrate that the work environment was so intolerable that resignation was the only option.

If you feel that your employer is about to illegally fire you, or if you’re dealing with a hostile work environment, it’s crucial to consult an employment attorney before you make any decision, especially before quitting. Quitting could significantly impact your legal rights.

 

Avoiding the Legal Snare: The Perils of Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs)

 

Employers are increasingly using Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs) to replace other restrictive covenants such as noncompetes and nonsoliciation agreements. But TRAPs can be even more restrictive—and more exploitative—than noncompetes.  In this article, we’ll explain what a TRAP is and how to avoid getting caught in one.

What is a TRAP?

TRAPs, also known as Training Repayment Agreement Provisions, are contractual terms that employees sign when they are hired. While the wording may vary, a TRAP requires an employee to work for a certain period of time. If the employee separates from service prior to that timeframe (whether they quit or are fired), the employee has to pay back the employer’s training costs, the costs of buying or renting equipment, or the costs of replacing the employee.  Sometimes those fees are prorated depending on how long the employee has worked.

How TRAPs Hurt Employees

TRAPs can be very misleading. Often they don’t state how much the employee will have to pay back, or they don’t disclose interest accrual rates or other information a person would usually be entitled to when entering an agreement that might affect their credit. Sometimes the “training” that an employee is expected to pay for is just the orientation or legally-required videos. Sometimes the fees for such “training” are outrageous – we’ve seen TRAP fees ranging anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000. Some TRAPs accrue interest so fast there is no way an employee will ever repay it. And TRAPs usually don’t provide any exceptions in situations where, the employee quits for reasons beyond their control – like sexual harassment, disability, or lousy working conditions.

A TRAP can reduce an employee’s pay below minimum wage. It can destroy an employee’s credit. Worse, employers use TRAPs as a threat: don’t leave this job or we’ll sue you, destroy your credit, report you to immigration, and make it so you can never find another job. There’s a word for this, and it was outlawed by the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. 😡 😡 😡

How To Spot A TRAP

TRAPs are often hidden in piles of onboarding paperwork, so employees might not even realize they’ve signed one. They are commonly used in nursing, trucking, and service industries, but we’ve also seen them in child care and professional contexts.

The only way to know if your employer is trying to get you to sign a TRAP is to read everything before signing. This can be difficult. People get trapped into TRAPs because they are so desperate for a job that they’ll sign anything. But that’s the trap. Employers may be counting on you to sign because you just need the money, and they may pressure you to sign by acting like the job won’t be there if you take your time.

What To Do When You See A TRAP

GET LEGAL ADVICE. TRAPs are illegal in some, but by no means all, jurisdictions—there’s no way to know without consulting an employment law attorney in your area. Legal or not, if someone is pressuring you to sign a document without having an attorney review it, that’s a sign you probably shouldn’t be signing the document. No job is worth your freedom.

Work and Weed: What New York Workers Need to Know

 


This article discusses a law that may affect New York workers, not workers in other states. By the time you read it, it may be out of date. All workers should consult with reputable workplace attorneys in their jurisdictions to understand how the law may affect individual workplace rights.


Introduction:

The New York Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), in addition to decriminalizing recreational use of cannabis, theoretically created some workplace protections for New York workers who engage in legal off-duty use. But last year’s Fourth Department decision,  Matter of Moran-Ruiz v. Ontario County, 218 A.D.3d 1341 (4th Dept. 2023), has called into question many of those protections, and it’s still illegal under federal law. The only intelligent way to understand how the MRTA affects you is to speak with a reputable New York workplace rights attorney. But here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Off-Duty Use of Marijuana:

The MRTA legalizes the recreational off-duty use of marijuana for individuals aged 21 and older. It is important to note that while the act permits the off-duty use of marijuana, it does not grant employees an absolute right to use or be under the influence of marijuana during working hours. Employers still have the right to enforce workplace policies and existing Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions regarding drug use, particularly if it could impair job performance or jeopardize safety.

2. Drug Testing and Employment:

First the bad news: workers in safety-sensitive positions or positions where drug testing is mandated by federal regulations are still subject to testing, including pre-employment and random drug testing.

Now the slightly better news: For existing employees, drug testing can only be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion of on-duty use, impairment, or violation of workplace policies. What is reasonable suspicion? Well… the statute says that reasonable suspicion does not exist unless the employee “manifests specific articulable symptoms of impairment.” Of course it doesn’t define what a “specific articulable symptom of impairment” might be. This guidance from the New York State Department of Labor indicates that just smelling like marijuana is not a specific articulable symptom. Glassy eyes, lack of focus, and lack of coordination have all been posited as possible articulable symptoms. But those are also symptoms of medical conditions that may trigger an obligation on the employer’s part to offer reasonable accommodations. So, watch this space.

The reality is that, if an employer reasonably suspects on-duty marijuana use or impairment, they may request an employee to undergo a drug test, and the drug test will be used as evidence that the employee may have been using marijuana while on duty. And because most employment is at-will, the employer doesn’t have to prove anything. So unless you have a union, you might be out of luck, even if you weren’t high at work.

3. Implications of Matter of Moran-Ruiz v. Ontario County:

This is where it gets weird. The MRTA created a whole new section in the New York lawful off-duty activities statute, seemingly creating robust protections for workers who engage in lawful off-duty use of cannabis.  But Matter of Moran-Ruiz significantly dials back those protections, concluding that the new section only gives employers additional excuses to discriminate on top of all the reasons that employers can already legally discriminate. (Not even kidding. Check out the language at the end of the decision.) So far, Moran-Ruiz stands. But…watch this space.

4. Conclusion:

Theoretically, the MRTA allows for off-duty cannabis use, but employers retain the right to implement policies regarding drug usage during working hours. And the decisional law so far has not been promising. It is crucial for employees to understand the limitations of the statutory protections. Staying informed and seeking legal advice is the best way to protect your workplace rights. Always consult a legal professional for personalized advice.

Federal Protections for Pregnant Workers Under the PWFA

 

This is the 1-year anniversary of the passage of the Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act [“PWFA”], which went into effect on June 27, 2023. The EEOC has issued guidance on how it works, and final rules are due out any minute. What should employees know?

 

The PWFA prohibits employers from requiring employees to take leave if another accommodation would let them keep working, denying employment opportunities on the basis of the need for a reasonable accommodation, and interfering with or retaliating against employees who are exercising their PWFA rights.

 

The PWFA requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to workers with limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Unlike previous pregnancy discrimination statutes, these requirements apply even if the pregnancy is uncomplicated or the limiting condition existed prior to the pregnancy. Additionally, an employee who is “temporarily” unable to perform the essential functions of the job is still considered “qualified” to do the job if they could perform the essential functions “in the near future.” No one knows exactly what these terms mean, so we’re waiting for the  regulations to give some indication.

 

Employers only have to accommodate “known limitations,” which means if you don’t tell the boss about the limitation, and they can’t see it, they don’t have to accommodate it. Technically, you don’t have to say “PWFA,” but it might be good idea to use the term to make sure the HR person knows what you’re talking about. Also, while there is some duty for the employer to detect obvious limitations, you shouldn’t count on the boss going out of his way to allow you to sit/stand or take frequent breaks if you don’t explain why you need them.

 

The EEOC says that four accommodations should be almost always granted: carrying and drinking water as needed, additional bathroom breaks, sitting and standing, and breaks to eat and drink. The key word here is “almost.” Remember, “reasonable” means that the accommodation does not impose an “undue hardship” on the employer, so if the requested accommodation is going to cost a lot of money or be disruptive to operations, it might not be considered “reasonable.”

 

Do some of these requirements sound familiar? That’s because in some cases, pregnant workers had protections under Title VII and the ADA (as well as various state and local laws). But the PWFA enhances, broadens, and clarifies those protections.

 

This is a new law with new regulations, so contact a reputable workplace attorney to make sure you have up to date information about your rights under the Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act!

Meet Margaret!

Meet our Spring 2024 intern, Margaret Grinnell, who is a part of Professor Grant Reeher’s Political Science Internship course at Syracuse University. Margaret is in her final semester at Syracuse, studying International Relations, and is drawn to areas of civil law.

Margaret has had the opportunity to volunteer for the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society in her hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. In this role, she completed paralegal work in the family law division, helping to support attorneys provide free legal assistance to low-income clients. At Syracuse, she completed a research assistantship with the Muslim Family Law Index Project, assessing legal reform in fifty-three countries. Through these experiences, Margaret gained a passion for legal accessibility and research.

At Satter Ruhlen Law Firm, Margaret is learning about the continuing evolution of labor law legislation, and is developing an interest in advocating for employee rights. She has observed depositions, interacted with clients, and participated in discussions of case law. Different from her previous experiences, at Satter Ruhlen, Margaret has gained a new perspective in the legal field, researching and learning about how employees and unions are protected under the law.

Margaret says her experience at Satter Ruhlen has given her clarity and confidence in her plans to move forward with a career in law. She notes, “Observing the diverse caseload at the firm has allowed me to understand different legal procedures which has enriched my legal understanding.”

We’ve certainly enjoyed having Margaret with us this semester, and we’re excited to watch her pursue a legal career!

 

 

Ask A Worker’s Rights Attorney!

Law Books

The Satter Ruhlen Law Firm presents:

 

Ask A Worker’s Rights Attorney!

A webinar for workers.

Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 6:00 pm

 

Do you work in New York?  Do you have a question about your workplace rights?  This is your chance to ask an attorney about it.  One lawyer, six participants, eight minutes per participant (we’ll have a timer!)  Quick answers to your questions about wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, unionizing, non-compete clauses, and other questions like “can they really do that to me?”

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Space is limited, so sign up soon!*

Participants will receive a 10% discount on a one-hour consultation with the Satter Ruhlen Law Firm.

Please note that this webinar is for informational purposes and is not to be considered legal advice. Participation in the webinar does not create or imply an attorney-client relationship. If you would like a dedicated one-hour consultation with us, please contact the Satter Ruhlen Law Firm at 315-471-0405 or through our website (https://www.satterlaw.com/contact-us/). We look forward to walking you through your workplace rights.

*Registrations will be screened for employees’ protection.

 

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