Mediating Verbal Abuse in the Workplace Northern Virginia

Mediating Verbal Abuse in the Workplace Northern Virginia

Mediating verbal abuse in the workplace can help create a healthy working environment and prevent a hostile work environment. Verbal abuse can be a huge issue for employers and employees alike. Here’s how a mediator in Northern Virginia can help. What is Verbal Abuse? Verbal abuse in the workplace is defined as shouting, disparaging remarks, name calling, belittling, and offensive or obscene language, as well as harassing remarks pertaining to race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. The abuse may come from management, staff, customers, consumers, or contractors. While most people believe they would know if they were verbally abused, some people are subjected to verbal abuse on a regular basis and don’t even realize it. While it can be easy to recognize shouting and name calling, other forms of verbal abuse may be much more subtle and hard to detect. Types of Verbal Abuse in the Workplace in Northern Virginia Some perpetrators choose overt methods of verbal abuse. This can include name calling and threats. But other more subtle techniques include things like gaslighting, or repeatedly correcting, interrupting, putting down or humiliating the other person. Even the silent treatment is a form of verbal abuse. By refusing to speak to

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Which Cases are Right for a Mediation Lawyer Northern Virginia

Which Cases are Right for a Mediation Lawyer Northern Virginia

A mediation lawyer in Northern Virginia could be a good alternative to litigation. But is a mediator right for your case? This depends on a few factors, so let’s discuss them. What is a Mediator? A mediation lawyer in Northern Virginia handles cases in a private, informal setting to resolve conflicts without legal judgment. The parties involved meet with a neutral third party (the mediator) to find a mutually agreeable solution to the conflict. Parties are often represented by counsel in mediation. The parties are not forced to agree to a solution in mediation. Instead, the mediator facilitates communication to help the parties reach a mutual agreement. Which Cases Can Be Mediated? Generally speaking, mediation is available in most non-criminal matters. However, some non-violent criminal cases, like those involving harassment, often result in successful resolution during mediation. Additionally, claims that don’t involve a legal issue can also be resolved with mediation. Common mediation cases involve conflict that arises in divorce, custody issues, disputes between family members, neighbors, employees, business partners, landlords and tenants, and labor unions and management. In fact, mediation is mandatory in some jurisdictions when it involves child custody or disagreements with neighbors. Cases in litigation such as

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Employment lawyer Virginia PUMP Act (PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act)

PUMP Act (PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act) goes into effect April 28th

On Friday, April 28th, the provisions of the new PUMP Act (PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act) go into effect.   What is the PUMP Act (PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act)? ALL employers nationwide are required to provide reasonable time and space (not a bathroom) for nursing mothers to pump. Breaks can be unpaid unless the employee uses paid breaks given to other employees.   Does the PUMP Act Apply to my Virginia Business? Employers with less than 50 employees are exempt IF they can prove compliance would provide an undue hardship. Retaliation against those exercising their rights under the Act, such as terminating or demoting an employee, is a violation of the Act. Available damages include lost wages and attorneys fees. The Act does not preempt state laws, such as Virginia’s, which provide additional protections to nursing mothers.   Virginia Employment Attorney for PUMP Act Advice Read more about the FLSA protections to pump at work at the PUMP Act here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pump-at-work or contact our team to schedule a consultation.

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virginia workplace mediation

How Mediation Helps Employees Returning to Work In-Person

Employers across the country are requiring employees to return to work in person as we finally recover from the pandemic. However, many employers are using workplace mediation to reduce the risks of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Here’s why. Returning to Work In-Person During the pandemic, many employees have had little in-person interaction with their coworkers. In fact, some employees that were onboarded during the pandemic may have only met colleagues virtually. So, some employees returning to in-person work may be rusty when it comes to interacting with other employees. Unfortunately, this increases the risk of inappropriate behavior. So, what can employers do? Take Precautions There are a few things that employers can do to help minimize these risks. First, update the company’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. This is also a great time to train employees on the company’s policies and remind employees what behavior is inappropriate for the workplace. This training should include the company’s process for reporting discrimination or harassment and remind employees that they will not face retaliation for reporting. Hire a Workplace Mediator Workplace mediation is a form of conflict management. It is a great way to resolve disputes in the workplace. An experienced mediator

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Lawyer for Trans Discrimination in the Workplace

Lawyer for Trans Discrimination in the Workplace

Unfortunately, transgender employees often face severe discrimination in the workplace based on either their gender identity or gender expression. If you have been the victim of trans discrimination in the workplace, you should contact an attorney. Examples of Trans Discrimination Transgender discrimination includes a wide range of offensive conduct. This includes things like intra-office speculation and false rumors about transgender employee’s gender identify. It can even extend to severe harassment, as well as physical or sexual assaults. State Laws on Trans Discrimination Many states, including Virginia, explicitly prohibit gender identity discrimination using one of three general approaches. Certain states like Iowa and New Mexico have laws that explicitly include gender identity as a protected characteristic. Other states prohibit sexual orientation discrimination and gender identity as included within the statutory definition of sexual orientation discrimination. Understanding Your Rights While federal law doesn’t explicitly prohibit gender identity discrimination, the EEOC has issued an opinion that employers that discriminate on the bases of gender identity are violating the prohibition against sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This came after the case of a transgender woman who was denied federal employment once an agency learned she had undergone

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