Judith H. Toole
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Former EEOC Administrative Judge; experience and trained mediator. Practice concentrating in alternative dispute resolution.

Employment Newsletter

Social Security Disability Insurance
 
The federal government provides disability benefits to workers through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, which is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). To be eligible to receive SSDI benefits, a worker must have worked for a certain number of calendar quarters. The SSDI benefit is calculated on the basis of the age of the employee and the employee's earnings record and is adjusted annually to account for cost of living increases. SSDI payments commence after a five-month waiting period.More...
 
Sexual Orientation Discrimination in the Workplace
 
Historically, employers, both public and private, were free to discriminate against employees or applicants because of their sexual orientation, which includes homosexuality, heterosexuality, and bisexuality. It was not illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or to demote someone because he or she was a homosexual. Today, while sexual orientation is not afforded the same broad protection from discrimination as race, religion, or gender, it's protection from discrimination has been steadily increasing at the federal, state, and local levels. More...
 
Damages under the Family and Medical Leave Act
 
Medical Leave Act of 1993)More...
 
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
 
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) was passed in order to protect the retirement assets of employees that were accrued through employer-sponsored pension plans. In defined contribution plans, retirement assets are invested and will increase or decrease as the investments increase or decrease. With defined benefit plans, the retirement plan sponsor promises to pay a certain amount to a plan participant upon retirement, whether a stated dollar figure or an amount that is calculated from the participant's salary and time of service to the employer. More...
 
Distinctions Between Employees and Independent Contractors
 
BackgroundMore...
 
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