7-Eleven franchisee settles EEOC claims it refused to accommodate workers with disabilities

The plaintiffs said employees unable to work for more than three days were terminated, a policy the defendant relied on to avoid making accommodations. 

By Lisa Burden • April 17, 2020

New York sues DOL, challenging COVID-19 paid leave regs

The state alleged DOL's rule creates new carve-outs "from whole cloth ... that appear nowhere in the text Congress enacted."

By Jennifer Carsen • April 17, 2020

Harassment reports fall but case closure times jump, study finds

"[T]here's no reason to think that workplace harassment is an issue that's gone away —​ and organizations should emphasize internal processes," the researchers noted.

By Jennifer Carsen • April 16, 2020

OSHA urges workers to 'immediately' report retaliation for reporting unsafe working conditions

Retaliation can include terminations, demotions, refusal to grant overtime or promotions or reductions in pay or hours, the agency said.

By Lisa Burden • April 16, 2020

'Exceptionally well-qualified' doctor can proceed with racial bias claim, 11th Cir. says

The plaintiff alleged she was asked to leave her position a few days after raising bias concerns.

By Jennifer Carsen • April 15, 2020

EEOC sues restaurant alleging owner solicited waitress for sex

Sexual misconduct is one of the biggest issues the restaurant industry faces, experts say.

By Lisa Burden • April 15, 2020

Judge denies McDonald's motion to dismiss $500M sexual harassment suit

The judge has also denied McDonald's motion to strike the suit's class allegations. 

By Sheryl Estrada • Updated July 21, 2021

7th Cir. upholds jury award for Hispanic worker subjected to harsher discipline

There was evidence the employer's HR manager "had little use for [the plaintiff]'s side of the story," the court said.

By Jennifer Carsen • April 14, 2020

Mailbag: How do I land a small business exemption from the coronavirus paid leave law?

HR Dive's mailbag series provides guidance on a common question about the FFCRA, which is causing affordability concerns for some employers.

By Ryan Golden • April 14, 2020

Walmart sued in Illinois court over employee's COVID-19 death

The case reveals the potential for lawsuits alleging employer liability for workers' exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

By Jennifer Carsen • April 14, 2020

Hair Cuttery stylists say they were denied pay for hours worked before coronavirus closures

This is among the first pay-related lawsuits to result from business closures fueled by the pandemic. 

By Lisa Burden • April 14, 2020

Safety takes priority in workplace training, survey finds

A quarter of respondents said they are using augmented or virtual reality-based tools for their trainings.

By Katie Clarey • April 14, 2020

SCOTUS won't decide whether EEOC can investigate after right-to-sue notice

The ruling has additional relevance thanks to EEOC's decision to suspend right-to-sue letters amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Ryan Golden • April 13, 2020

5th Cir. revives claim alleging 'near daily' racial slurs created hostile work environment

The plaintiff, an African-American sheet metal worker, said a co-worker threw his tools out of a moving vehicle and threatened to throw him off a roof.

By Lisa Burden • April 13, 2020

11th Cir.: Employee mocked for accent can move forward with claim despite 'inconsistencies'

As the court in this case noted, national origin bias or harassment can occur even if the perpetrator does not know the victim's ethnicity or nationality.

By Jennifer Carsen • April 9, 2020

Supervisor's actions fell short of 'extreme' hostile work standard, 9th Cir. says

His remarks about the worker's epilepsy, though derogatory, were isolated incidents, the court noted.

By Lisa Burden • April 9, 2020

Poor performance, not retaliation, led to waiter's firing days after complaint

An employer can take an unrelated adverse action against a worker who has engaged in protected activity, sources say, but it should have evidence of the legitimate reason.

By Lisa Burden • April 9, 2020

Male doctor paid more due to experience, specialty, not sex, 11th Cir. says

Employers are generally free to make personnel decisions as they see fit, so long as they are motivated by non-discriminatory, legitimate reasons.

By Jennifer Carsen • April 8, 2020

Users report glitches, mistaken denials in new H-1B registration system

USCIS has attempted to overhaul the H-1B application process to make it easier for employers, one source told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • April 8, 2020

8-month-long sexual harassment investigation was 'sufficiently expeditious,' 2nd Cir. finds

A prison employee alleged the employer failed to take appropriate steps to stop a co-worker who she claimed circulated intimate photos of her.

By Lisa Burden • April 7, 2020

States, cities ask workers to report employer COVID-19 shutdown violations

New York, Oregon and Kansas City, Missouri, have asked for workers' help to identify non-compliant businesses.

By Jennifer Carsen • April 7, 2020

HR pro allegedly released weeks before retirement vested gets age claim revived

The employee provided evidence that another applicant was pre-selected for the position he sought.

By Lisa Burden • April 6, 2020

2nd Cir.: Worker may have faced bias, but not from those involved in her firing

The incidents may have caused her "understandable frustration and disappointment," but the termination was not motivated by bias, the court said.

By Jennifer Carsen • April 6, 2020

Dems slam DOL's coronavirus leave law guidance

The agency interpreted the FFCRA in ways that may be more or less narrow than the statute's text, a source told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • Updated April 6, 2020

An area for caution: Asking about personal travel

As employers worry about workers' exposure to the new coronavirus, they must mind anti-bias laws.

By Katie Clarey • April 3, 2020