Legal
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Not sure how to be proactive about harassment? Focus on 'gray areas'
Workplace harassment discussions often focus on clear-cut incidents, but Duane Morris LLP partner Jonathan Segal shifted the lens at SHRM's annual conference.
By Ryan Golden • June 25, 2019 -
6th Cir.: Nissan worker with restrictions not disabled under ADA
Rather than point to a single job they cannot perform, a plaintiff alleging a work-related disability must show that the condition precludes the ability to work in a broad range of jobs.
By Lisa Burden • June 25, 2019 -
5 female anchors sue NY1 for gender and age discrimination
The plaintiffs allege station management is "grooming" younger replacements that track their appearances, including hair color and ethnic backgrounds.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 25, 2019 -
Study: More federal funds go to immigration enforcement than labor protections
In 2018, Congress gave immigration enforcement agencies funds to employ 78,800 workers. The 10 labor standards enforcement agencies enough for 10,400 workers, EPI reported.
By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • June 25, 2019 -
DOL proposes overhaul of US apprenticeship approval process
A proposed rule would establish a new process for third-party entities, including employer groups, to set new standards for industry apprenticeships.
By Ryan Golden • June 25, 2019 -
'I'm not out here': Facebook fishing trip video dooms worker's FMLA claim
After the employer questioned him about the video, the employee was fired for violating a workplace policy against dishonesty and misusing FMLA leave.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 25, 2019 -
Employers paid out $174M to resolve background-check lawsuits
Knowledge of federal and state laws and proper training of supervisors and managers can lower employers' risk of facing costly legal battles.
By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • June 24, 2019 -
Gold mine pays $690K to settle allegations it failed to promote female miner
The company denied promotions to a female miner while promoting men with less seniority or training, according to the EEOC.
By Lisa Burden • June 23, 2019 -
Court says former CVS exec's move to PillPack violated noncompete
The judge found the employee's decision violated the agreement because he was providing similar services to a drugstore competitor.
By Dana Elfin • June 21, 2019 -
Jury awards $15M to Jack in the Box employee dubbed 'grandma'
A court found the supervisor was subjected to wrongful discharge, retaliation, harassment and age and disability discrimination.
By Lisa Burden • June 21, 2019 -
Trump admin opens door to fundamental changes in healthcare benefits
Paul Fronstin of the Employee Benefit Research Institute said he doesn't expect an uptick right away, but when the next recession hits, "the future of health benefits gets put to the test."
By Samantha Liss • June 20, 2019 -
Wiccan professor at Catholic university claims religion and sex bias
According to the complaint, the provost advised she "might not want to be so overt about being a witch" if she wanted to advance her career.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 19, 2019 -
Kids' consignment sale volunteers were employees, DC Cir. finds
The Rhea Lana workers were consignors who worked five-hour shifts in exchange for priority shopping access.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 19, 2019 -
3rd Cir.: Hospital admin terminated for cost reasons, not bias
The former employee said her firing was linked to the cost of her husband's cancer treatments, which he received at the hospital.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 18, 2019 -
Employers hire the formerly incarcerated despite internal hurdles
Transparency and commitment to hiring goals can prevent perceptions from getting in the way, speakers at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation event said.
By Ryan Golden • June 18, 2019 -
Defense contractor settles EEOC return-to-work suit for $75K
The employer gave an engineer a choice to resign or be fired after a doctor and a fitness-for-duty examiner cleared his return, EEOC said.
By Lisa Burden • June 18, 2019 -
Obesity alone is not an ADA-covered disability, 7th Cir. says
Joining several other courts, the 7th Circuit concluded that obesity is not a protected disability unless it stems from an underlying condition.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 17, 2019 -
Dental practice sued for age bias after firing 8 hygienists older than 40
The terminated hygienists eventually were replaced with 14 employees, 13 of whom were under the age of 40, EEOC said.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 17, 2019 -
No special call-out hurdles for FMLA leave, district court says
Employees can be required to follow established call-in procedures but they must be consistently applied for all types of leave, the court said.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 17, 2019 -
Nevada becomes first state to protect applicants with positive marijuana tests
The law makes exceptions, however, for certain occupations, including firefighters and emergency medical technicians.
By Ryan Golden • June 14, 2019 -
Dems urge McDonald's to enforce franchise sexual harassment policies
Lawmakers called the chain's working conditions "unsafe and intolerable" and said its alleged pervasive pattern of harassment must end.
By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • June 13, 2019 -
Executives are adopting causes — the latest is a woman's right to choose
In a public letter, more than 180 CEOs said that anti-abortion legislation inhibits their ability to recruit top talent across state lines.
By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • June 13, 2019 -
Employer will pay $425K to settle suit alleging 'regular and open use' of slurs
Black employees also were allegedly assigned more difficult tasks and longer delivery routes than others.
By Lisa Burden • June 12, 2019 -
Job offer allegedly rescinded because of pregnancy leads to $80K settlement
The company told the applicant she should have notified it of her pregnancy because it would not have hired her had it known, EEOC said.
By Jennifer Carsen • June 12, 2019 -
EEOC sues Greyhound for religious discrimination over Muslim garb
The company allegedly refused to let a bus driver wear an abaya, citing safety concerns, and proposed she wear a knee-length skirt over pants.
By Lisa Burden • June 11, 2019
