About Canaan Suitt, J.D.
Canaan Suitt received his J.D. from William & Mary Law School. After serving as a senior editor for the law school’s comparative law blog, he was a staff member of the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review (ELPR). As a legal intern at the National Center for State Courts, he assisted in international rule of law projects and policy review; as a research assistant, he studied political dynamics in the U.S. federal judiciary. His articles on law and philosophy have been published in the ELPR as well as the academic journal Dewey Studies. He loves using his background in research and writing to make legal information accessible. Canaan currently writes for SuperLawyers.com. In his free time, he enjoys reading, travel, and being a cat dad.
Articles written by Canaan Suitt, J.D.
What Is Employment and Labor Law?
Employment and labor laws are a body of state and federal statutes that address the rights and obligations of employers and employees. Labor laws protect collective bargaining and union representation. Employment laws address workplace rights, including overtime pay, minimum wages, equal opportunity discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, and OSHA compliance safety violations. Employer liability can lead to back pay for unpaid wages, reinstatement, and severance packages. …
Can You Collect a Pension and Still Work Full-Time?
Many retirees return to the workforce to earn extra income or to socialize and make connections. Supplemental retirement income can help cover living expenses, healthcare, and leisure activities. Before returning to work, consider how earning income will affect your eligibility for retirement benefits. Pension and income tax laws vary by state. For more information about your pension or disability retirement benefits, talk to a local wage and hour law attorney. Understanding Pension …
Is It Illegal to Make Employees Work Off the Clock?
It is almost the end of the workday, and your employer has just asked you to redo a project. The deadline is in a couple of days. You decide to stay late and wrap it up. You won't get paid for this work, but at least the project will be over. This is an example of working off the clock. With remote work and telecommuting, bringing work home and putting in extra hours is even easier. Whether an employee voluntarily works extra unpaid hours or the employer demands it, work that is unpaid or not …
Can You Be Forced to Work Overtime? Is it Legal?
Being forced to work extra hours can strain your work-life balance, interfering with personal or family plans. "One can understand the employer's perspective that you have to get the work done, but you also have to be sensitive to employees' work schedules,” says Eric Kingsley, an employment law attorney in Encino, California. When employees work overtime, federal and state laws require that they get overtime pay. But do workers have a right to refuse overtime work altogether? For most …
Can I Legally Opt-Out or Refuse To Pay Union Dues?
Employees can opt out of union membership at any time. Employees can also, in many circumstances, legally opt out of paying union dues or pay a reduced amount. Key determining factors are whether you live in a right-to-work state and the reason why you don’t want to pay dues. After decades of declining union membership, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest report shows that about 14 million workers in the United States are union members. Many unions strive to improve members’ working …
Can Your Boss Legally Cut Hours Without Notice?
Because of at-will employment, employers can fire you or give you reduced hours for any or no reason at all, as long as the reason doesn't violate specific laws. For example, employers can't break an employment contract with you. They can't cut your pay in retaliation or for discriminatory reasons. Employers also can't reduce your pay below the minimum wage. And they can't retroactively cut wages you've already earned. That's wage theft. Despite the serious financial stress resulting from an …
What Is Debtor-Creditor Law?
Debtor-creditor law is the legal framework regulating the relationship, legal rights, and responsibilities of lenders and borrowers. A loan agreement or promissory note details the loan terms. Enforcement tools for unpaid balances include wage garnishment, judgment liens, or asset seizure. Options for borrowers facing financial default and a lower credit score include settlement negotiation, repayment plans, or debt discharge through bankruptcy filing. State and federal consumer protection laws …
How a DUI Is Proven
A DUI is proven when the prosecutor shows the driver was in actual physical control of a vehicle while under physical or mental impairment of drugs or alcohol. Evidence showing physical impairment and probable cause includes standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs), observation period breathalyzer, chain of custody blood test evidence, dashcam footage showing reasonable suspicion, drug recognition expert (DRE) officer testimony, and circumstantial evidence. Bodycam footage can show traffic …
Is It Legal To Install Cameras in the Workplace for Surveillance?
Generally, it's legal for your employer to use video cameras in the workplace. No federal or state law absolutely prohibits the practice, and there are many reasons why cameras can be beneficial, such as monitoring the security of employees and customers. However, there are important limits on where employers can install surveillance cameras and the purposes for which employers can use them. In some cases, an employee's expectation of privacy outweighs an employer's interest in surveillance. If …
Should You Hire a Wrongful Termination Lawyer?
If you were fired from your job and you think it was for an illegal reason, you may have a wrongful termination claim. This article addresses different types of wrongful termination and options for taking legal action. Wrongful termination lawsuits can be very complex. Speaking with an experienced attorney is often essential in getting the best outcome in your case. This article will also help you get started in finding the right attorney. For answers to your specific questions, talk to a local …
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