Oakland County Law Blog

For the past decade, immigration raids at work sites in the United States have been uncommon. That changed in early April when agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 280 employees at a business in Texas. While it is not yet clear if company officials will face criminal charges, the message is clear: Hiring undocumented workers is a mistake. 

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 prevents U.S. employers from knowingly employing unauthorized workers. As an employer, you have an affirmative obligation to verify both the identity and work eligibility of everyone you hire. To do this, you complete and retain the I-9 form. You can likely gauge your company’s potential liability by examining the penalties for violating the IRCA. 

When you show up to your place of employment, you have a right to a comfortable work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Regrettably, however, discrimination and harassment are common issues in many American work settings, with some industries and fields experiencing higher rates of them than others.

Sexual harassment, for example, is an especially significant problem for students and workers in health care settings, including hospitals and doctor’s offices, with the Harvard Business Review reporting that the problem often starts before medical students even begin their careers. Just what is it that makes health care settings such hotbeds for sexual harassment?

Many Michigan couples raced to divorce before the end of 2018. At the start of 2019, a new law went into effect that limits how much alimony spouses can write off on their taxes. 

Now that 2019 is here, there are many additional considerations to bear in mind for couples who want to divorce. The complexity of the process will vary on a litany of factors. The proceedings become complicated if one or both spouses own a business. Individuals who own businesses need to be proactive, which means they should create a prenuptial agreement prior to the marriage to protect business-related assets. 

If you have seen a news broadcast in the last couple of years, you know immigration is a hot issue in the U.S. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 prohibits employers from intentionally hiring individuals who lack legal authorization to work in the country. To determine whether workers have authorization, most employers must complete I-9 forms. 

Some employers choose to take the employment verification process to another level. E-Verify is an electronic program that uses several databases to verify employment eligibility. If your employer participates in the program, however, you must be certain you do not become the victim of discrimination. If you think your employer has used E-Verify incorrectly, you may need to act quickly to assert your legal rights.