In a previous post, we discussed how real estate agents show they were the “procuring cause” of a transaction – and thus entitled to their commission. Today, we cover one of the ways an agent can recover their commission: Liquidated damages outlined in their contract....
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Commission Disputes Part I: “Procuring Cause”
When someone works on commission, if the other party fails to hold up their end of the deal, there are often large sums of money on the line. Most often, the individuals who find themselves in this type of bind are real estate agents. Today, we begin a two-part series...
Manipulating start times for employees violates federal law
A restaurant in North Carolina became a cautionary tale this week when the U.S. Department of Labor cracked down on their policies regarding start times for employees. The restaurant was required to pay over $53,000 in back pay to their tipped employees, who were not...
What you need to know before refinancing your mortgage
Lower interest rates this spring have many people thinking about buying a new home – or refinancing their current mortgage. When rates dropped at the end of March, many people rushed to refinance while rates were so low. But before you hurry to refinance, stop to...
Long Island real estate market may soon tip in favor of buyers
With median home prices between $380,000 and $515,000, home sellers in Suffolk and Nassau Counties have seen the benefits of rising home prices over the last few years. But, it seems the market is headed toward a plateau that will eventually lead to a drop in prices....
Trump administration proposes overtime rule, but is it enough?
In accordance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, salaried employees earning less than $23,600 per year are eligible for overtime. This means if you have a managerial position or are otherwise paid a salary, and if you make $455 per week or less, you should...
Report: 10 percent of adults in New York report experiencing quid pro sexual harassment
"Quid pro quo" means "this for that" -- and it's unfortunately a common form of sexual harassment in New York workplaces. In fact, a poll conducted by the ILR School at Cornell University found that 10.9 percent of adult respondents in New York had experienced quid...
Wrongful termination is unlawful. But managers often get away with it.
New York is an "at-will" state when it comes to employment. That means an employer can fire you for nearly any reason -- as long as the reason doesn't violate anti-discrimination laws on the city, state or federal levels. But if you ask around, many people will tell...
Not all overtime disputes wind up in court
When people think of wage disputes or violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), they often imagine that such cases will go to trial where a judge will decide the case. The thought of a courtroom trial may appeal to people looking for a dramatic sense of...
Should I be receiving overtime?
It's not always easy for people to know if they should be receiving more money than they are getting at work. This is particularly true if you work irregular hours, are unsure of your status as a worker or if the timekeeping records at your job are unreliable....