Employment Law

DST Systems Layoffs, age based

2011-08-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

The Paulus Law Firm is currently investigating DST Systems following a series of layoffs by DST Systems that our current clients claim were based on age. If you've been terminated or laid off by DST Systems and feel that your termination was based in part on your age, please contact the Paulus Law Firm at mail@pauluslawfirm.com

CSC Class Action

2011-06-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

We've expanded our CSC class action to include all hourly employees nationwide. Please contact us if you are a current or former CSC employee who worked off the clock.

The case is Jennifer Tommey v. Computer Sciences Corp., case number 2:11-cv-02214 in U.S. District Court for the District Court for the District of Kansas.

Kansas Department of Corrections under Fire

2011-05-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Kansas Department of Corrections has come under fire when former inmates filed lawsuites claiming their constitutional rights were violated they were forced to engage in sexual conduct with prison employees. KDOC were found guildty of having unlawful sexual relations with at least one female inmeate at a Topeka prison. The lawsuite claims that the Warden was aware that the plaintiffs were being "incarcerated under conditions posing a substantial risk of serious harm."

2011-05-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

Ex-CSC Employeee Sues Over Unpaid Wages, OT Pay

by Dan Rivoli

Law360, New York (April 14, 2011)--A former employee at informaiton technology giant Computer Sciences Corp.'s Kansas Operation center hit the defense contractor with a class action Thursday for denying workers wages and overtime pay for work done off the clock.

Jennifer Tommey, a former consultant and account services assistant, accused CSC of denying nonexempt employees who are paid hourly at an Overland Park, Kan., Facility wages for work-related activities performed during lunch breaks, and before and after their shift, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in the District of Kansas.

Missouri Human Rights Act

2011-04-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

Governer Nixon states that proposed changes to the Missouri Human Rights Act is "unacceptable". Senante Bill 188 would strike case law and changes state statutes that currently offer Missouri workers more protections than federal law if they are discriminated agianst or wrongfully discharged. The proposed law caps recoveries for wrong doing and makes it more difficult for employees to win lawsuits agaisnt violating employers. Governer Nixon said the bill would undermine current law under the Missouri Human Rights Act. "This bill would make it harder to prove discrimination in the workplace, and would throw new hurdles in the path of those whose rights have been violated," Nixon said. "that is unacceptable." This author agrees with Governer Nixon's assessment and hopes his veto will prevent Missouri from taking a step backwards in the struggle for Civil Rights. I can only assume that Sen. Brad Lager (R-Savannah), the bills sponsor, was pandering to big business when he proposed this new bill.

Working off the Clock

2011-02-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

Is your employer requireing you to work off the clock? We first saw this situation arising in cases where an employer required an employee to shower in and out form work and then put on a uniform of some sort prior to punching in to start their shift. This type of practice required the employee to be a thte place of employment 30 minutes to an hour prior to starting their shift just so that they could start on time. In essence this caused the employee to work off the clock. The employee was entitled to recover twice the amount owed for these hours (many of which were overtime hours), and attorneys fees.

We are seeing a new type of case arise where call center employees are being forced to arrive at wwork before their shifts start to complete administrative functions and are also forced or encouraged to complete other essential administrative tasks during lunches, breaks and after their shift ends. If you think that you may be wrking off the clock please call attorney Ryan Paulus at the Paulus Law Firm at 816-695-5328 and visit our website at www.pauluslawfirm.com

Employment Basics

2010-12-17T16:06:00.000-08:00

The Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA), makes it illegal to discriminate in any aspect of employment because of an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex disability or age (40 through 69) including: hiring and firing; compensation, assignment, or classification of employees; transfer, promotion, layoff, or recall; job advertisements; recruitment; testing; use of the company facilities; training and apprenticeship programs; fringe benefits; pay retirement plans, or disability leave; or other terms and conditions of employment.

Illegal discriminatory practices under the Act also include harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, or age.

Retaliating against an individual for filing a complaint of discrimination, participating in an investigation or hearing, or opposing discriminatory practices; and

Denying employment opportunities to a person because of marriage to, or association with, an individual of a particular race, religion, national origin, or an individual with a disability.

If you think that your rights may have been violated please contact Ryan Paulus at the Paulus Law Firm for your free consultation. Ryan Paulus can be reached at 816.695.5328 or emailed at ryan.paulus@pauluslawfirm.com