Our Labour and Workers` Rights practice pursues positive litigation, policy reform, individual representation and community education to strengthen enforcement of workers` and jobseekers` rights, discourage employers from taking advantage of vulnerable workers, and help low-income workers earn a living wage. We provide counselling, referral and advocacy services to low-income workers facing a variety of issues, including job loss, unpaid wages and overtime pay, workplace discrimination and sick leave issues. In addition, Our Child Care Project advocates and advises home child care providers on licensing and other legal issues affecting their child care employment. The Legal Aid Society`s Labor Law Unit (ELU) has advised New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated on behalf of low-wage New Yorkers. During the pandemic, various new labor laws were introduced and the ELU organized numerous trainings for elected officials and their staff, workers` centers, synagogues, schools and other community groups to educate them on workers` rights. ELU helps unemployed people access unemployment insurance benefits and represents workers at hearings when they are unfairly denied benefits. ELU supports workers who are victims of wage theft if they do not receive the appropriate minimum wage or overtime. In addition, ELU represents workers who are subject to unlawful discrimination in the workplace, even if an employee needs accommodation due to COVID-19-related illnesses. Our lawyers represent workers who are victims of wage theft, discrimination, retaliation and other unfair treatment by their employers. NYLAG attorneys can help you in the following ways: Ask for free help with civil (non-criminal) legal matters.
People aged 60 and over should call the Senior Helpline. The ELU works with community organizations, worker centers, and social services to identify and assist New York City clients with employment law issues. Click on one of the sub-themes below for legal information, forms, service providers or court information. If what you`re looking for isn`t available, contact your local legal aid office or the Virginia State Bar. For low-income workers, violations of workers` rights can be catastrophic and cause a crisis that affects them throughout their lives. They are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because they do not have a safety net. Theft of wages or loss of employment can quickly lead to debt, food insecurity or loss of housing. Too often, workers don`t come forward for fear of reprisal or because they don`t know where to turn for help.
The Employment Law Department (ELU) provides support to clients – usually low-wage earners and unemployed people – who are faced with a range of employment law issues. Most LU cases involve wage violations, discrimination in the workplace, family and sick leave, human trafficking and unemployment insurance. Undocumented workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers, and the ELU works closely with our immigration law department to help apply for U or T visas. Applications for unemployment benefits are filed online on the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) website. The claim in the following video that applications for unemployment benefits can be made at a local DES office is no longer correct. Claims for unemployment benefits can take anywhere from 12 to 20 weeks, depending on the current level of unemployment in the state of North Carolina. The statement in the video that a right to unemployment benefit is valid for 13 weeks is not correct. The Labour Law Department of the Legal Aid Society provides legal services to low-wage workers and the unemployed. Support is generally provided to individuals with problems related to unemployment insurance, wage and hour violations, family and sick leave rights, and workplace discrimination – including discrimination based on previous involvement with the criminal justice system and human trafficking. With the generous support of the legal community, beneficiaries, foundations and other donors, Legal Aid at Work offers four main services: We help low-wage workers assert their rights to unpaid wages and equality in the workplace. In addition, ELU works with law firms and other companies for quarterly resume workshops where clients can receive individual and small group support in creating and updating resumes/cover letters, as well as job search assistance.
Clients with incomes at or below 200% of the poverty line may be represented if they fall under certain exceptions. Currently, Legal Aid offers remote services over the phone. You can reach us via our main number (212) 577-3300 or the helpline 1-888-663-6880, Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm. ELU, along with pro bono attorney Shearman & Sterling LLP, represented more than 60 current and former pizza suppliers in federal district court against DPNY, which owned four Domino`s Pizza outlets in Manhattan. and franchisor Domino`s. We first met with the complainants through an organization with which we work closely, National Mobilization Against Sweatshops (NMASS), a New York labor organization. The lawsuit concerned systematic violations of wage theft – minimum wage and unpaid overtime, violations of tipping rules and reprisals against workers who complained of these practices. Are you worried about taking time off work if your child`s school has switched to remote or hybrid learning, or suddenly closes? You may be entitled to take paid leave. Click on the photos below to find out what types of issues we`re addressing and what communities we`re serving. Our online app is an easy-to-follow interactive interview that walks you through the registration steps.
Based on the plaintiffs` allegations that Domino was involved in training merchants, collecting and maintaining payroll data, and establishing policies and procedures, the court allowed the plaintiffs to include Domino`s as a defendant – which is not common, but is essential in this case since the defendant franchisee filed for bankruptcy. We can also provide assistance with ERISA administrative complaints (appeals against decisions relating to health and retirement/pension benefits). The ELU and Shearman & Sterling also represented the group in bankruptcy court. A settlement in the case was approved by the bankruptcy court and included $1.282 million to be paid by the defendants, including nearly $1.2 million for the workers. As part of the settlement, the franchise also agreed to pay its delivery drivers the full minimum wage instead of the reduced „inclined“ wage. ELU also works with law firms that become pro bono co-counsel in our litigation. ELU also works with retired volunteers and law students to increase our capacity to represent low-wage workers. was won for an employee who was dismissed due to illness.
