Welcome to the Employment Blog of Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau, LLC, a leading Connecticut law firm dedicated to protecting employee rights. Here, our attorneys share insights on workplace discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other key employment law topics to help you stay informed and empowered.


 

Digital Evidence in Workplace Discrimination Cases.

Can Text Messages and Emails Help Prove Workplace Discrimination?

In today’s workplace, discrimination doesn’t only happen in person. With so much business being conducted via email, group texts, and Slack, modern workplace discrimination often happens electronically. Digital communications have become some of…
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Protected Concerted Activity: Your Rights Without a Union.

Protected Concerted Activity: Rights Even If You're Not in a Union

Every day, American workers must quietly decide whether it is worth raising concerns about pay, hours, safety, or unsafe conditions. Since 1935, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) has protected workers who speak up. Passed during the Great Depre…
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Should You Hire an Employment Lawyer for an HR Investigation?

Should You Hire an Employment Lawyer Before Participating in an HR Investigation?

Being asked to participate in a workplace investigation can be stressful and intimidating. Years of education and experience provide you with the skills you need to do your job, but they do not necessarily prepare you for what to expect during an HR…
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Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs): What Employees Should Know.

Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs): What Employees Should Know

A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is intended to sound like a positive, constructive way to correct employee performance. But if you are on the receiving end of a PIP, you may need to look out. It may be the first step in the termination process.…
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What Is Considered Circumstantial Evidence in Discrimination Cases?

What Is Considered Circumstantial Evidence in Discrimination Cases?

Workplace discrimination rarely comes with a “smoking gun.” Few employers or supervisors are brazen enough to openly identify a discriminatory reason for termination, demotion, or refusal to hire. Instead, discrimination is often disguised with l…
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What to Know About Pretext in Wrongful Termination Cases.

What to Know About Pretext in Wrongful Termination Cases

Connecticut is an “at-will” state, which means an employer can fire an employee with or without cause, as long as the reason is not discriminatory or retaliatory. Of course, few employers announce that they are firing an employee for illegal reas…
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Can an Employer Legally Reduce Your Pay?

Can an Employer Legally Reduce Your Pay?

Having your pay reduced can be startling and inconvenient at best, and financially devastating at worst. You rely on your paycheck to keep a roof over your head, buy groceries, and care for your loved ones. When even a portion of that money goes away…
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Employees Should Be Careful Using AI Tools During Litigation.

Why Employees Should Be Careful Using AI Tools During Litigation

The rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we communicate. While employees may be tempted to turn to AI to gather information and for assistance drafting workplace grievances, they must approach the use of AI with caution. Th…
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Can AI Discriminate Against Job Applicants? What Employees Need to Know.

Can An Employer’s Use of AI Discriminate Against Job Applicants? What Employees Need to Know

AI hiring tools are transforming the way employers find, evaluate, and hire talent. But these tools are well-known for replicating systemic bias, leading to potentially unlawful discrimination. Madsen, Prestey & Parenteau, LLC, has advocated on b…
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Whistleblower Protections for Healthcare Workers in Connecticut.

Whistleblower Protections for Healthcare Workers in Connecticut

Healthcare workers are often the first to witness safety violations, fraudulent billing practices, regulatory misconduct, and other forms of wrongdoing in the industry. Reporting these issues takes courage. Unfortunately, some Connecticut employers r…
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