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Florida Employment Law Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: My wife was sent home from her job without pay due to a positive COVID-19 test result at my hospital. Is this legal?

I work in a hospital and do not have direct contact with an patients. We recently had a positive test result at the facility, and the patient is already discharged.

Jay P. Lechner
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Jay P. Lechner
answered on Mar 31, 2020

It is legal for an employer to take reasonable actions to protect the health and safety of its employees and customers. However, if an employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19, that employee would be entitled to up to two weeks of... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: I was recently laid off from my job. The reason that was stated was force reduction

My job was posted on the Company website 5 days later. I was not even given an offer to keep my job but at a lower rate of pay. 3 people were laid off, myself being one of them, the only person that was given the opportunity to stay on was the executive assistant, he took a pay cut. It seems like... View More

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 30, 2020

It sounds like your employer is trying to take advantage of the national health crises to get rid of senior employees by "laying them off" (which BTW entitles you to file for unemployment benefits).

So, if you feel you have been discriminated against by actions of your employer,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Public Benefits for Florida on
Q: I was denied for unemployment because I quit my last job......but....

The end of Oct 2019 I was forced to quit my job at Pollo Tropical in Sunny Isles due to being evicted, my car being totaled, and having to move to my mom’s in Hollywood. I had spoken with my employer regarding the strong possibility I would need to transfer because I was on the verge of losing my... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Mar 25, 2020

If you make your unemployment insurance claim, chances are that you will be deemed to qualify.

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Can my work repeatedly change my weekly schedule in florida?

I work as a fabricator in volusia county, fl and my work has changed my weekly schedule from four 10 hour days to five 8 hours days and back within a year. They are talking about returning to five 8 hour days again after only two weeks with little notice. Are they legally permitted to keep changing... View More

Rhiannon Herbert
Rhiannon Herbert
answered on Mar 25, 2020

The Fair Labor Standards Act is the federal law governing employee wages, but it doesn't provide much guidance or protection here. Employees are not guaranteed a certain number of hours to work, and the FLSA does not impose any restrictions on the scheduled hours adult employees are permitted... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: I resigned from my employer, a large engineering firm, and they refuse to pay me for my last weeks of work.

The amount could be settled in small claims court, but I am unsure where to make that claim, my local office location (Orlando), corporate HQ office (Dallas), or payroll processing office (Pasadena, CA). Would an attorney help me for less than $10,000 owed.

Jay P. Lechner
PREMIUM
Jay P. Lechner
answered on Mar 24, 2020

This is a type of matter for which an employment attorney could help you. Often these disputes can be resolved prior to filing suit. If not, your actual place of employment generally is the correct jurisdiction. There may be other issues, so you should probably speak with an attorney.

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Due to the Coronavirus my office is open for emergencies only (dental). Can they legally refuse to pay my accrued PTO?

I normally work 36 to 40 hours which is considered full-time cut down to 16 hours approximately.

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 24, 2020

Yes, because giving employees the gift of PTO is not required by Florida law. Be happy you still have the job.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Education Law for Florida on
Q: I teach at a private school thru the federal Title I program for a private company and they are not allowing us Use PTO

While school is closed, they are making us file unemployment I have over 120 PTO hours is this legal?

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 23, 2020

It appears that this private education company is attempting to avoid possible disaster caused by a bunch of teachers all going out on PTO at the same time; however, the way they are trying to avoid closing down is probably unlawful. Look for an experienced employment lawyer who is familiar with... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Employer claimed my firing was performance-based, but fired two of my subordinates the next day citing COVID-19.

I was a production manager overseeing six staff. I had no idea I was going to be let go. Hadn't received any bad performance reviews nor disciplinary action. They even sent me to additional management training only two weeks earlier. And I regularly worked 50+ hrs/wk (salaried). It seems... View More

Mitchell Feldman
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Mitchell Feldman
answered on Mar 22, 2020

Unfortunately unless you have an employment contract with guaranteed income for a set period of time, you cannot sue your employer for the loss of your job, other than pursue unemployment. A layoff for virus would entitle you to receive unemployment, and moreover, any moment the US government is... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Can my employer demand that I stay at work for 14-30 days? I am being told will not be allowed to go home.

Where I work we have no sleeping facilities, the bathrooms are unsanitary and no laundry facilities. No one has been tested for the corona virus but we are being told we are going to be locked down and not allowed to go home. We will only be paid for our normal shift hours. Isn't this against... View More

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 23, 2020

This is America. Slavery was abolished in 1863. No one--including your employer--can "force" you to come to work, or to stay at work or to work in the dark, whatever. However, Florida employers are free to terminate your employment at any time and for any reason. Moreover, refusing to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: My employer are sending workers home to work using their personal computer at home. I don’t have a computer, I was told

That because I don’t have a computer at home, I won’t be able to work and they will use my remaining PTO time for this year and my PTO time for next year. Is this legal?

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Mar 20, 2020

Yes, it is. Employment is, in most if not all states, "at will", which means that your employer can lay you off if it wants. Your best bet would be to get yourself a computer (and Internet access, if you don't already have it).

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: being sued for breach of contract after quitting and being asked to come back but no contract signed again

Case Description

i was working as a contractor for an advertising agency (it was emphasized that i was a contractor and not and employee). after a few months of being unhappy i quit the agency - and the ceo and hr all approved it. after a few weeks they asked me to come back and help out -... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Mar 20, 2020

It looks like they are suing under the non-competition clause in the original contract.

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Florida on
Q: I'm working as a contractor thru an agency KForce(2400 emp) My placement end 3/31 due to virus. Can HR6201 help me?

My placement is with an employer with less than 500 employees, but because I'm paid through KForce, does that mean I won't be entitled to any of the paid sick or paid leave policies outline in the new legislation? What can I do?

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 20, 2020

In light of the moment-by-moment changes being made to federal, state and local laws as all the governments try to handle all aspects of the Corona virus pandemic sweeping the world I have decided not even to try to answer any of the scores of "what if" questions being posted by askers... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: I live in Florida and my employer is telling employees to take days off and using our vacation time. Is that legal?

Its a small business. I know they are struggling, but it doesnt seem fair to be told from one day to the next that you will have to takee a day off and use a vacation day.

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 19, 2020

This is NOT as unfair as it looks to you; why? Because (unless there is a written employment agreement) Florida employers are not required to give any of their employees any paid leave time or sick leave time or any leave time.

Why? Because Florida is an “at will” state, which means...
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2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law and Health Care Law for Florida on
Q: there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 at my workplace, and the management team has not notified any staff

My management team has not notified any staff members of the cases of COVID-19, and have hidden the cases to an extent. The employees have found out due to word of mouth from close friends of the effected individuals, and I am working on getting contact with the individuals themselves. Assuming the... View More

Jay P. Lechner
PREMIUM
Jay P. Lechner
answered on Mar 19, 2020

This morning, the President signed into law the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, which provides 2-weeks paid leave to certain employees (not in the health care field) for a number of reasons, including if they have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to... View More

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Q: Working for a company and having Medical marijuana

Is it illegal for an employer to refuse to hire someone due to smoking marijuana even if they have a medical marijuana card? The company is saying they have a strict "drug free policy" and cannot excuse marijuana from the drug screening even if a medical card is provided. The type of job... View More

Richard Paul Zaretsky
Richard Paul Zaretsky
answered on Mar 16, 2020

The employer is entitled to set requirements for the job. If qualifying in a drug free environment is one of the requirements, then you right (in Florida) to use medical marijuana does not exempt you from that requirement. For example, the employer can require that no person working can take cold... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Civil Litigation for Florida on
Q: Questions about procedures and drafting of complaint...

I am filing suit pro se against former employer for retaliation and unpaid wages (attorney representation would have been ideal but am having to do this myself because attorney I retained dumped my case after 9 months of stalling and no work but I still want to be paid at least minimum wage)... View More

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 10, 2020

Answers to your five questions in seriatim:

1. No.

2. Not that I am aware of.

3. Plead all damages in all counts.

3 (sic). No--and no copies of relevant pages either. Just identify the case.

4. Ask for whatever you want; the defense will enlighten you.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: My job is forcing me to stay home for 2 weeks after vacation due to the coronavirus. Can they force me to use PTO?

I offered to stay home without pay.

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 10, 2020

Yes, your employer can force you to use PTO if you stay home. Or sick leave if you claim that. Why? Because your employer did NOT cause the Coronavirus; nor did your employer force you to stay home; nor does your employer have to keep you on the payroll if you persist. Get to work.

2 Answers | Asked in Business Law, Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Is there a law aginst employers takeing all of there employees tips be cause someone stole from them?

My names Kristina I work at a tropical smoothie in fort Pierce FL some one thought it was smart to steal 200$ from the cash register at my job an since my boss dosnt know who he started takeing every ones tips to pay off the two hundred dollars even though half of the employees had nuthing to do... View More

Linda Liang
Linda Liang
answered on Feb 29, 2020

Yes

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: I have a garnishment on my paycheck. Why ? Who is taking my money every week ?
Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Feb 26, 2020

If your employer won't tell you, start by checking with the clerk of court in the county where you live. Check if there is a judgment and a writ of garnishment against you. You want to make a claim of exemption (if your pay is exempt) and schedule a hearing as soon as possible.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Florida on
Q: I have a garnishment on my paycheck. Why ? Who is taking my money every week ?
Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Feb 27, 2020

Your employer must tell you who they are garnishing your paycheck for--and how to contact the person or company too. Depending upon the total amount they are trying to take, you might want to hire a banking lawyer to represent you and get to the bottom of this problem. Act very quickly.

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