Paternity Leave Protections There are numerous benefits to taking paternity leave, from increasing bonding time with your new child to enhancing your relationship with your partner.[1] Unfortunately, we are receiving a significant number of calls from men who have been fired after notifying their employer of their intent to take paternity leave. Not only is this illegal sex discrimination, but it is also illegal under Colorado’s new Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (“FAMLI”), which launched January 1, 2024. This article provides an overview of your paternity leave protections and wh ..read more

What a POWR Move: Major Changes to Colorado Employment Law During the 2023 Colorado Legislative session, the General Assembly passed the Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act (SB23-172). The POWR Act makes significant changes to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-401 et seq., that provide workers with greater protections against workplace discrimination and harassment. Rachel Ellis was honored to be part of this legislative effort. The Act goes into effect on August 7, 2023. It is not retroactive; the additional protections provided by the ..read more

Workplace discrimination is more common than you might think. According to a report in Harvard Public Health, more than half of black Americans and almost one-third of American women reported workplace discrimination. Understanding what constitutes workplace discrimination can be confusing; let’s take a look at some frequently asked questions. FAQ: What is a “protected class”? “Protected classes” were established by Congress under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. These classifications include the following: gender age (over 40) ethnicity national origin religion relationship or marital status disa ..read more

What Is Age Discrimination? Age Discrimination “involves treating an applicant or employee less favorably because of his or her age” according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Have You Experienced Age Discrimination In The Workplace? According to a 2018 report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), “more than 6 in 10 workers age 45 and older say they have seen or experienced discrimination based on age in the workplace. Of those, 90 percent say it is somewhat or very common, according to a 2017 survey. In another survey in 2015, more than 3 of 4 older ..read more

FAQs: Workplace Violations for Remote Workers   What is Remote Work? Remote work refers to work that is done from an alternate worksite away from the employee’s official worksite with the employer’s knowledge and approval. Employees who work from home instead of their employer’s place of business are remote workers. Employees who rent space at co-working spaces instead of working at their employer’s official worksite are also considered remote workers.   I am a Remote Worker; Do Workplace Anti-Discrimination Laws Still Apply to My Situation? Yes. Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, i ..read more

When HR Fails to Take Your Complaint Seriously Most people have had a workplace issue; for many, the first attempt to address the problem is contacting the Human Resources Department. If you have complained to HR, but they have done nothing and are failing to take your issue seriously, you may feel frustrated and unsure of what to do next. For many workers, there is a need to pursue a more formal HR process outlined in your employer’s policy manual or to file an agency complaint. Steps for Addressing Workplace Problems Read your Policy or Employee Manual. Your first step is to take note of y ..read more

Watching a loved one struggle at work can be challenging. Naturally, you want to help, but you can’t resolve drama or conflicts for a spouse. What can you do? You can lend an ear and listen, give advice or console, and ensure your spouse knows their workplace rights and when it’s time to seek help. What’s Illegal at Work? Colorado and federal laws prohibit discrimination and harassment at work, and they also prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who report these workplace violations. But sometimes, knowing the line between “bad” and “illegal” regarding work is hard. Some of th ..read more

Racial discrimination in the workplace means treating an employee or job applicant unfavorably because of the person’s skin color, race, personal characteristics associated with a race like hair texture or facial features, or association with someone of another race or color. Race discrimination can occur even if both are of the same race, but it is still illegal. Today, many people like to think that racial discrimination in the workplace is no longer a problem. But the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) still received almost 24,000 race discrimination complaints in 2019 ..read more

Disability discrimination is treating an employee or job applicant differently because of a disability, perceived disability, or an association with a disabled person. Whether a person is visibly disabled or not, treating them differently or failing to make certain workplace accommodations is illegal. While disability discrimination claims have steadily declined over the last decade, people across the U.S. still filed more than 24,000 disability claims with the EEOC in 2019. So, it’s good to understand your employment rights under federal and state legislation, including the Americ ..read more

Complaints concerning racial discrimination in the workplace are the most commonly filed complaints in the United States. But that’s not the case in Colorado. While it falls in the middle of states for racial discrimination complaints, this state leads the nation in employment discrimination complaints based on religion. Because religious discrimination at work is such a hot button issue here, let’s take a look at what employees need to know to protect their rights. Laws Against Religion-Based Employment Discrimination Both Title VII and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (“CADA”) prohibit ..read more