Portage is a city in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 44,897 at the 2000 census. Portage is adjacent to the southern boundary of the City of Kalamazoo. The city was incorporated from the entirety of the former Portage Township on December 31, 1963. There are two public high schools in Portage, Portage Central and Portage Northern. The pharmaceutical company Pfizer also has operations located there, which in recent years has caused much controversy due to layoffs. Portage is known for its extensive network of historical parks and trails used for cycling, walking, canoeing, and other recreational activities. Since the creation of the Portage Bikeway system in 1989, the trails have expanded to over 50 miles (80 km), over five times as long as the city’s expressways. Portage is also home to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.

What is employment law?

Employment law deals with the relationship between employees and their employer specifying the rights and restrictions applicable to the employee and employer in the workplace. Employment law differs from labor law, which primarily deals with the relationship between employers and labor organizations.

Employment law regulates such issues as employee discipline, benefits, hiring, firing, overtime and breaks, leave, payroll, health and safety in the workplace, non-compete agreements, retaliation, severance, unemployment compensation, pensions, whistleblowing, worker classification as independent contractor or employee, wage garnishment, work authorization for non-U.S. citizens, worker's compensation, and employee handbooks.

Answers to employment law issues in Michigan

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum standards for minimum wage and...

Under federal laws, it is illegal to discriminate against someone (applicant or employee) because of that person's...

The law forbids discrimination because of...

It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include "...

Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that may violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the...

The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women in the same workplace be given equal pay for equal work. The jobs need...

It is illegal to fire, demote, refuse to promote, harass, or otherwise “retaliate” against people (applicants or...

Employers covered under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 of...

As a general rule, the information obtained and requested through the pre-employment process should be limited to...

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected...