Layoffs Trigger More Employment Lawsuits

We've seen a number of articles recently talking about how the economic down-turn is increasing the amount of employment-related litigation. This makes sense and follows a pattern that we've seen for years.

People don't like to sue their employers. Even if things are bad at a job -- even if the employer doesn't pay for all overtime or there's discrimination -- most people don't like to complain and don't want to risk losing their job. Most people only step forward after there's been some kind of break in the employment relationship -- either the boss or supervisor does something that the employee just can't take any more, or the job ends. With all the lay-offs, it's no surprise that more people are filing law suits.

Here's an article from today's New York Times on this issue.