5 Things Your Boss Can't Legally Do

5 Things Your Boss Can't Legally Do 

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1. Your Boss Cannot Ask Illegal Interview Questions

A hiring manager may break the law before they even become your boss (*major red flag of a toxic workplace*). The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against job applicants because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, 

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1. Your Boss Cannot Ask Illegal Interview Questions

or genetic information. This includes discrimination against pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation. Employment law prohibits employers from asking job applicants about these topics and outlaws employers from using information about these topics to impact hiring decisions. Employees and potential employees 

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1. Your Boss Cannot Ask Illegal Interview Questions

are protected from this type of discrimination under the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) law, and additionally, there are more specific acts that dig deeper into employee rights, like the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you're unsure of what an illegal interview question might sound like, here's a list of eight completely illegal interview 

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1. Your Boss Cannot Ask Illegal Interview Questions

questions you don't have to answer.

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2. It's Illegal to Refuse or Neglect Overtime Pay or Minimum Wage

If you are a covered nonexempt worker, you deserve to receive fair compensation for the amount of time you work. It’s an employee right as a part of your employment agreement.  The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage and overtime pay employment standards for employees in the private sector and in federal, state, and local 

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2. It's Illegal to Refuse or Neglect Overtime Pay or Minimum Wage

governments. If you realize you are not being paid appropriately for your time worked, report the issue to your Human Resources department immediately.

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3. It's Illegal for Your Boss to Discriminate Against or Harass Workers

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the same employment law that protects employees against discrimination during the interview process, also applies once employed. There are eight broad categories that employers are prohibited from discriminating against workers on, known as protected classes: race, color, 

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3. It's Illegal for Your Boss to Discriminate Against or Harass Workers

religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. Employers cannot use these protected classes in multiple aspects of employment, including hiring, termination, compensation, promotions, benefits, among others.

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4. Your Boss Cannot Legally Terminate a Whistleblower

Whistleblowers are protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act. Whistleblowers are people who report on something they reasonably believe to be: – violation of law, rule, or regulation – gross mismanagement – a gross waste of funds – an abuse of authority – or a substantial and specific danger to public health 

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4. Your Boss Cannot Legally Terminate a Whistleblower

or safety. If you are an employee who informs on one of these behaviors and you subsequently get fired or harassed, your employer could be in serious legal trouble. The ability to whistleblow is essential to the integrity of company operations and acts as a safeguard to the employer, its employees, and 

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4. Your Boss Cannot Legally Terminate a Whistleblower

company stakeholders. Punishing a whistleblower for doing what they believe to be right is illegal.

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5. It's Illegal for a Boss to Fail to Provide Reasonable Accommodations for Those With Disabilities

Title, I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations as they relate to three aspects of employment: – ensuring equal opportunity in the application process – enabling a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job – making it possible for an employee with a disability to 

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5. It's Illegal for a Boss to Fail to Provide Reasonable Accommodations for Those With Disabilities

enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment As businesses begin to invite their employees back to physical offices, they must keep in mind employees with disabilities.

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