Aaron Hotfelder

Aaron Hotfelder

J.D. · University of Missouri School of Law

Aaron Hotfelder is a legal editor at Nolo specializing in employment law and workers' compensation law. He has written for Nolo and Lawyers.com since 2011, covering topics ranging from workplace discrimination to unemployment benefits to employee privacy laws. He's a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA).    

Books and citations. Aaron has edited many Nolo titles, including The Manager's Legal Handbook, Dealing With Problem Employees, and Working With Independent Contractors, and is a co-author of The Employer's Legal Handbook. Aaron's work has been cited by U.S. News & World Report, TheStreet.com, the St. Louis University Law Journal, and the Minnesota Law Review, among many other outlets.

Early legal career. Before joining Nolo as a legal editor, Aaron worked at a small law firm in Columbia, Missouri, representing clients in Social Security disability, long-term disability, and workers’ compensation cases. He later spent three years serving as an employment law consultant for a human resources and benefits compliance firm.

Education. Aaron received his law degree in 2010 from the University of Missouri School of Law. He holds a B.S. in criminal justice from Truman State University, known by some as the "Harvard of Northeast Missouri." 

Articles by Aaron Hotfelder

When Can You Sue Your Employer After You've Signed a Release?
You've just been laid off. Your employer slides a severance agreement across the table with a release attached. Sign away your right to sue, and you'll get a few weeks of pay. You need the money—and have no plans to sue anyway— so you sign.
Union Activity at Work: Employee Rights, Organizer Access, and Employer Rules (2025)
Employers can't single out union discussions or activities for discipline.
Michigan Reference Laws
If you’ve lost your job, you may worry about what your former employer will say to companies that call and ask for a reference.
Your Rights When Applying for a Job With a Criminal Record in Massachusetts
There are an estimated 65 million Americans with a criminal record. If you are among them, you might face an uphill battle in your job search. Surveys show that a majority of employers – a whopping 92%, according to one survey – check criminal records when hiring for some or all positions. If a prospective
How to Get Unemployment Benefits in Maryland
If you are out of work, you might be eligible for unemployment benefits. Unemployment compensation is available to those who are temporarily out of work, without fault on their parts. The basic structure of the unemployment system is the same from state to state. However, each state sets its own rules
Does My Company Have to Provide Me With a Place to Pray?
A Muslim employee asks about accommodations for daily prayers.
Workplace Drug Testing in Missouri
Has your Missouri employer or prospective employer asked you to take a drug test? Federal law places few limits on employer drug testing: Although the federal government requires testing by empl
Employment Discrimination in Maine
What are the protected classes in Maine? In all 50 states, federal law makes it illegal to discriminate based on:
Can Independent Contractors File For Unemployment?
Independent contractors make up an increasing portion of the workforce, from freelance designers to rideshare drivers. But what happens when work dries up? Can independent contractors file for unemployment?
Universal Free Child Care in New Mexico: What Parents Need to Know
Learn who qualifies, what the program covers, and how families can apply for the state's new universal child care benefits.
<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > >>