Law Offices of Lisa C. Ward, PLLC

08/29/2024

Our firm is hiring!

Below, please find a link to our LinkedIn job posting for our open Legal Assistant/Legal Secretary position.

This is an on-site position, with largely flexible schedule options.

Interested candidates should email their resume to [email protected]

You can also check us out at lisacwardlaw.com !

https://www.linkedin.com/hiring/jobs/4011107833/detail/

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11/28/2023

UPDATES TO THE MICHIGAN EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ACT

Recently, the Michigan Legislature passed certain amendments to the Michigan Employment Relations Act. Prior to these amendments being passed, private and public employees were prohibited from being required to pay union fees to a labor organization as a condition of obtaining or continuing employment under their workplace’s collective bargaining agreement. The Act also prohibited the requirement of pay to a charitable organization or third party an amount of money equivalent to dues, fees, or other charges that are required to be represented by a labor organization. Additionally, any person who violated any of these provisions would be liable for a $500 fine.

Previously, an employee was not required to pay union fees to a labor organization as a condition of obtaining or continuing employment under their workplace’s collective bargaining agreement. Thus, the amendment allows an employer and a labor organization to enter into a collective bargaining agreement that requires all employees in the bargaining unit to fairly share the financial support of the union. The amendment also removed language referring to protecting the “right to work.”

The amendments to the Act are effective on February 13, 2024.

11/28/2023

UPDATES TO THE ELLIOT-LARSEN CIVIL RIGHTS ACT

Prior to the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) amendments being passed, discriminatory practices, policies, and customs in employment, public accommodations and services, educational facilities, housing, and real estate based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, s*x, height, weight, familial status, or marital status were prohibited. The ELCRA did not extend to s*xual orientation and gender identity or expression.

The amendment updates the language within the Act to include the prohibition of discrimination based on s*xual orientation and gender identity or expression. Thus, LGBTQ persons are protected by the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to the same extent as other persons. The amendments to the Act are effective on February 13, 2024.

02/15/2023

PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE ELLIOT-LARSEN CIVIL RIGHTS ACT

On January 12, 2023, a bill was introduced to amend the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to expand the current discrimination protections and provide more inclusive language within the bill. The proposed amendment prohibits discrimination based on s*xual orientation and/or gender identity or expression.

Prior to this amendment, individuals risked having their claim dismissed solely because ELCRA’s prohibition of s*x discrimination didn’t encompass s*xual orientation. However, in 2018, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) issued a statement that discrimination based on s*xual orientation and gender identity falls within the scope of discrimination based on s*x. In 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court used the MCRC language to hold that discrimination based on s*xual orientation constitutes discrimination based on s*x (Rouch World, LLC v. Department of Civil Rights).

The bill would simply adopt this language and explicitly prohibit discrimination based on s*xual orientation and gender identity or expression. The bill would take effect in 90 days and have no fiscal impact on State or local governments.

You can find out more about this and other legal issues on our website.

Legal Issues Affecting You | Lisa C. Ward For more recent updates on legal matters affecting you, check out our page! PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE ELLIOT-LARSEN CIVIL RIGHTS ACT On January 12, 2023, a bill was introduced to amend the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to expand the current d...