EventsWorker Rights

November 28th, 2023

Wage Empowerment Workshop

For months, Work With Dignity and Political Ed Committee members have been working towards a workers’ rights & organizing training focusing on wage theft, which is one of the biggest problems we’ve seen workers struggle with in Southern Maine in the past few years. It’ll cover common types of wage theft + how we can protect ourselves…

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EventsWorker Rights

September 8, 2022

Virtual Workers’ Rights Legal Clinic

The Southern Maine Workers’ Center partners with the Volunteer Lawyers Project to host a virtual Workers’ Rights Legal Clinic (WRLC) weekly on Thursday from 5-7pm over Zoom or phone. At the clinic, you can talk to a volunteer lawyer for a free half hour consultation. You can get advice on topics such as your legal rights at…

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NewsWorker RightsWorkers

June 10, 2022

SMWC Worker Support Hotline Pause June 10-September 5, 2022

The Southern Maine Workers’ Center is pausing our Worker Support Hotline from June 10-September 5 to focus on updating our WORK Manual, launching this year’s series of workers’ rights trainings, and reflecting on our hotline data to help us be more intentional about how our hotline can best support Maine workers. In the meantime, please check out…

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 29, 2021

Know Your Rights – Maine’s Earned Paid Leave Law

Conheça seus direitos – disponível em PortuguesConoce tus derechos- Disponible en EspañolConnaissez vos droits: disponible en français What is Earned Paid Leave ?Also known as Public Law 2019 Ch. 156, “An Act Authorizing Earned Employee Leave,” Maine’s Earned Paid Leave law (EPL) went into effect on New Year’s Day 2021, a year and a half…

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 30, 2020

Can my employer not pay me if I am sent home early from work, or told not to come in for a scheduled shift?

Unfortunately, under Maine law, employers are only required to pay employees for hours actually worked, so if you are an hourly employee and are sent home early, you need only be paid for the time you worked. Maine law does not require employers to pay employees for reporting or showing up to work if no…

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 30, 2020

What if I become sick at work with symptoms relating to COVID-19? Can my employer send me home?

Yes.  The CDC recommends that employees who become sick with COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or fatigue) should be separated from other employees and sent home immediately.  However, you may be entitled to paid leave (see FAQ 3) or a reasonable accommodation (see FAQ 8). DISCLAIMER: This FAQ Sheet is intended…

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 30, 2020

If I have COVID-19, what can my employer tell others about my condition?

Your employer is required by law to keep all medical information about you private and confidential.  It can, however, share your medical information with those who have a “need to know,” but only to the extent necessary.  For example, your employer may need to share with employees in your workplace that another employee has tested…

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 30, 2020

If I traveled to a country affected by coronavirus, can my employer ask me if I was exposed to coronavirus or require me to stay home during the incubation period?

Yes, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that travelers to certain countries stay home for 14 days.  The list of countries may change; refer to the CDC website for further information. DISCLAIMER: This FAQ Sheet is intended to provide accurate, general background information regarding legal rights relating to employment in Maine. It is…

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 30, 2020

Can my employer ask me if I have a health condition (like a compromised immune system) that would be affected by coronavirus?

No. It would be against the law for an employer to ask an employee without symptoms of COVID-19 if they have a medical condition that would make them particularly vulnerable. DISCLAIMER: This FAQ Sheet is intended to provide accurate, general background information regarding legal rights relating to employment in Maine. It is not legal advice….

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 30, 2020

Can my employer require me to submit to a medical screening for the coronavirus?

The Families First Act allows employers to require employees entering the workplace to have their temperature taken.  It also allows employers to ask employees about whether they have any symptoms associated with COVID-19.  DISCLAIMER: This FAQ Sheet is intended to provide accurate, general background information regarding legal rights relating to employment in Maine. It is…

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 30, 2020

The CDC has said that individuals age 60 and older are more vulnerable to the Coronavirus. My employer decided to send everyone older than 60 home without pay to protect them. Is that legal?

Treating older workers less favorably than other employees, even if well-intentioned, can violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the MHRA.   If you believe you have been discriminated against on the basis of your age, contact an employment discrimination attorney. You may also file a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission directly…

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Covid-19Worker Rights

April 30, 2020

Can my employer fire me because I have COVID-19, they suspect I have COVID-19, or someone in my household has COVID-19?

It is illegal for your employer to fire you or otherwise treat you worse than other employees because you have a disability or are regarded as having a disability.  Because COVID-19 may be a disability, it may be illegal for your employer to fire you because you have it or because your employer regards you…

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