West Virginia is an “at-will” employment state. People (including, unfortunately, some employers) think that means that an employee can be terminated any time for any reason – or no particular reason at all. However, there are some important exceptions to at-will...
West Virginia Consumer Protection and Employment Law Blog
5 subtle signs of workplace harassment
Sometimes, workplace harassment is obvious. A supervisor engages in quid pro quo sexual harassment of a specific employee, or a group of employees overtly mistreat a worker to create a hostile work environment. The person targeted cannot overlook the harassment...
Aggressive debt collectors: What are my rights?
Debt collectors often become increasingly aggressive toward those who have fallen behind on their payments. The more time passes and the higher the overall value of a debt, the greater the likelihood of aggressive collection efforts. Eventually, attempts to collect on...
3 critical employee rights of coal miners
Coal miners work a physically arduous and dangerous job. They go down into mines to physically extract coal for energy production and other purposes. Despite pressure to transition away from coal as an energy source, the demand for coal in the United States remains...
3 warning signs you might have bought a lemon
Buying a brand-new vehicle is a massive investment. People pay a premium price for the prestige that comes from acquiring a vehicle with no previous owners. Generally speaking, those buying new vehicles expect them to be in pristine condition and to retain a...
Were you punished for taking medical leave?
Some employees have benefit packages from their employers that include paid leave benefits. Workers can request time away from work to take a vacation or recover from a medical issue while receiving their wages if they follow company policies. Many employees do not...
Avoiding buying if desperate, and other tricks to avoid a lemon
Most discussions about actual lemon laws in West Virginia focus on brand-new vehicles. Usually, defects in newer vehicles that dealerships cannot quickly fix could allow buyers the option of returning the defective vehicle, requesting a replacement or demanding a...
What happens when you are injured or harmed by an unsafe product?
Unsafe products sent out to retail establishments can cause serious illness and injury. Historically, there have been issues ranging from contaminated medications to defective vehicle components that have put consumers at risk affecting the public at any given time....
What West Virginia workers should know about unpaid overtime
Federal law makes overtime pay a requirement for non-exempt workers in a variety of situations. There are also rules in West Virginia that govern overtime pay. In general, employees should receive at least 150% of their average hourly pay for the hours over 40 that...
Is it a lemon? Here are 3 things to look out for before buying
In West Virginia, lemon laws specifically apply to new vehicles with defects. It is very common for those looking at new vehicles on a dealership lot to assume that the vehicle is in pristine condition and will be useful with minimal maintenance and service for at...
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