5 ms·

No, but good luck proving that's why[0] you were fired. [0] Discussing your salary.

wing-_-nuts 5y ago
Worker protections have no teeth in the US. It's to the point where factory management can literally be caught on camera saying they fired a worker for trying to organize a union (see American Factory) and the company gets nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Nothing is 'illegal' if it's not enforced.
- tptacek 5y ago
  That hasn't been my experience. In two different companies I worked at (none of them companies I ran myself), the company settled quickly over claims, at least one of which was candidly pretty frivolous. It's annoying to have to find and retain an attorney to get this done, but my expectation is that if you had an attorney bring a credible claim, you'd likely get some degree of satisfaction.
  - effingwewt 5y ago
    That's nice, but for another point of anecdata I've seen more companies flagrantly break laws, than ones who follow them, especially when it's in the best interest of the company. Most workers cannot afford to take their employers to court, and the businesses know this and take advantage of it every single day.
  - lovich 5y ago
    Does the situation in the United States seem to back up this anecdote? Do we see companies fail or suffer extreme setbacks from workers exercising their rights across the land? Or do we see companies growing at massive rates while employee compensation has stagnated?
    - pessimizer 5y ago
      No. They suffer no setbacks, admit to nothing, and there isn't even a record left that can establish a precedent for the next person to get screwed. You can tell through the pathetic press releases of the various agencies responsible, esp. the EEOC: these are the best settlements they're getting. Your best option is to find the sleaziest, most experienced lawyer possible. A lawyer who is adept at delay, distraction, and costly legal requests. The company will settle for a moderate amount (maybe a couple years salary in exchange for your silence.) You'll give half to the lawyer. I'm pretty sure that in a lot of cases it's the same lawyers threatening to sue the same companies over the same behavior, and getting the same settlements in return for the same NDA. It can become a relationship between lawyer and company functioning like an external severance pay arbitration department.
pessimizer 5y ago
In the US, it's entirely legal to fire someone because of the side they part their hair on, or because you're too attracted to them[*]. As the asshole, I mean person who was fired, your obligation is to eliminate every possible cause other than belonging to a protected class or some specific labor law corner case. If they didn't write about you in an email, you're in trouble. [*] https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/opinion/fired-for-being-beautiful.html https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/opinion/fired-for-being-b...

Worker protections have no teeth in the US. It's to the point where factory management can literally be caught on camera saying they fired a worker for trying to organize a union (see American Factory) and the company gets nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Nothing is 'illegal' if it's not enforced.

tptacek 5y ago
That hasn't been my experience. In two different companies I worked at (none of them companies I ran myself), the company settled quickly over claims, at least one of which was candidly pretty frivolous. It's annoying to have to find and retain an attorney to get this done, but my expectation is that if you had an attorney bring a credible claim, you'd likely get some degree of satisfaction.
- effingwewt 5y ago
  That's nice, but for another point of anecdata I've seen more companies flagrantly break laws, than ones who follow them, especially when it's in the best interest of the company. Most workers cannot afford to take their employers to court, and the businesses know this and take advantage of it every single day.
- lovich 5y ago
  Does the situation in the United States seem to back up this anecdote? Do we see companies fail or suffer extreme setbacks from workers exercising their rights across the land? Or do we see companies growing at massive rates while employee compensation has stagnated?
  - pessimizer 5y ago
    No. They suffer no setbacks, admit to nothing, and there isn't even a record left that can establish a precedent for the next person to get screwed. You can tell through the pathetic press releases of the various agencies responsible, esp. the EEOC: these are the best settlements they're getting. Your best option is to find the sleaziest, most experienced lawyer possible. A lawyer who is adept at delay, distraction, and costly legal requests. The company will settle for a moderate amount (maybe a couple years salary in exchange for your silence.) You'll give half to the lawyer. I'm pretty sure that in a lot of cases it's the same lawyers threatening to sue the same companies over the same behavior, and getting the same settlements in return for the same NDA. It can become a relationship between lawyer and company functioning like an external severance pay arbitration department.

pessimizer 5y ago

In the US, it's entirely legal to fire someone because of the side they part their hair on, or because you're too attracted to them[*]. As the asshole, I mean person who was fired, your obligation is to eliminate every possible cause other than belonging to a protected class or some specific labor law corner case. If they didn't write about you in an email, you're in trouble. [*] https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/opinion/fired-for-being-beautiful.html https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/opinion/fired-for-being-b...