Kentucky
The Blue Grass State of Kentucky is home to over 4.26 million people, according to an ‘08 census. Kentucky is known for high quality bourbon distilleries and a unique regional music scene. KY’s Mammoth Cave National Park attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year. The state also supports thriving tobacco and manufacturing industries, several large car companies, coal mining enterprises, and leading hunting and sport fishing businesses. In addition, equestrian fans view the state as the epicenter of horse-racing and horse-showing in the US.
The Division of Employment Standards, Apprenticeship and Mediation administers and enforces Kentucky state laws regarding wage and hour, overtime pay, minimum wage, child labor, and equal opportunity. This public entity checks into allegations of discrimination, wage and hour violations, and child labor violations. It mediates disputes and enforces resolutions. The Division of Employment Standards, Apprenticeship and Mediation also offers training, further education, technical assistance, and other resources for state workers. It operates in conjunction with the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
Some issues the division regulates include minimum wage payments, illegal deductions from paychecks, overtime issues, record keeping, and sexual discrimination. Per federal and state law, it is illegal for KY employers to discriminate against workers on the basis of race, gender, creed, physical or mental disability, and a variety of other factors.
The state often must intervene in legal issues revolving around race and national origin discrimination. Long simmering tensions between ethnic whites in rural areas of Kentucky and African-Americans in more metropolitan regions, such as Louisville, have been exacerbated – or at least changed – by the recent influx of a sizable number of Hispanic immigrants. As these various racial groups integrate, it’s inevitable that some residual discrimination will likely need to be managed in the courts of law.
If you’ve suffered discrimination while working at a Kentucky company, the attorneys at Joseph, Herzfeld, Hester & Kirschenbaum can provide a free, confidential consultation about your matter.