DOL shifts to a per-violation penalty for certain child labor infractions

It’s yet another enforcement shift in a year where federal regulators levied high-profile penalties against child labor law violators across several industries.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 4, 2023

NLRB rules against Amazon in New York fulfillment center union organizing case

The National Labor Relations Board alleges the company unlawfully retaliated against some employees, including by changing work assignments.

By Nate Delesline III • Dec. 4, 2023

Can you eat meat and work at PETA? How personal values intersect with work

Yes and no, PETA says. But the question touches on a bigger workplace culture topic: employee-employer value alignment.

By Caroline Colvin • Dec. 4, 2023

Republican AGs back lawsuit challenging Nasdaq diversity rules

The case is one of several legal actions targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts following the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 1, 2023

Papa Johns will pay $175K to settle ADA claim involving service dog

The worker was not allowed to bring to work the dog he needed for his commute — despite running the accommodation past the store manager ahead of time, according to the complaint. 

By Emilie Shumway • Nov. 30, 2023

McDonald’s asks SCOTUS to hear no-poach case

A group of former employees sued in 2018, alleging that hiring restrictions between the fast food chain and its franchises constituted a “per se” violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 29, 2023

Biden DOL nominee stalled in Senate

Democrat José Javier Rodríguez’s nomination has been blocked since 2021.

By Ginger Christ • Nov. 29, 2023

Citizens Bank will implement noncompetitive ADA reassignment policy to settle EEOC lawsuit

The bank also will pay $100K to resolve the complaint, which alleged it refused to transfer a customer service representative with anxiety.

By Kate Tornone • Nov. 29, 2023

A Taco Bell worker reported a party where co-workers were ‘openly having sex.’ Employees retaliated and HR did nothing, a lawsuit alleges.

An employee said she was told to transfer locations after reporting threats of harassment to human resources.

By Ginger Christ • Nov. 27, 2023

Employee alleges airline forced her to pump in baggage claim office

Protections for birthing parents at work have been an ongoing theme in 2023 lawsuits.

By Caroline Colvin • Nov. 27, 2023

10 common termination traps — and how to avoid them

The uncomfortable and legally challenging aspects of terminations can be ameliorated with careful forethought and planning, write Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP attorneys.

By Meredith Gregston and Dan Butler • Nov. 22, 2023

Navigating religious accommodation after Groff v. DeJoy

Employers may need to institute more rigorous processes than they now have in place for handling such accommodations.

By Jonathan A. Segal and Adam D. Brown • Nov. 21, 2023

Feds abandon first-ever criminal no-poach indictment

DOJ had previously warned HR pros that wage fixing and no-poach agreements could result in prison time, but the latest news may signal a shift in enforcement.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 21, 2023

ADA didn’t require hospital to allow nurse’s service dog, 6th Circuit says

The court backed an employer’s decision that the dog’s allergens posed a “direct threat” after a patient and another employee had allergic reactions.

By Laurel Kalser • Nov. 20, 2023

PUMP Act entitles exempt employees to breaks, DOL investigator cautions

Until recent months, only nonexempt workers were entitled to time and space to pump.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 20, 2023

Staffing firm to pay $900K to resolve DOJ discrimination claim

Job ads and hiring processes that allegedly barred immigrants from Kforce’s talent pool violated the Immigration and Nationality Act.

By Caroline Colvin • Nov. 16, 2023

The public dislikes tip pools, Pew finds

Tip pools have proved a controversial wage-and-hour topic, especially when back- and front-of-house staff are both included.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 13, 2023

Truck dispatcher needing part-time, remote work wasn’t covered by ADA, 11th Circuit rules

The worker sued Schneider National Carriers, making failure-to-accommodate, discrimination and retaliation claims.

By Caroline Colvin • Nov. 13, 2023

Plaza Azteca ordered to pay $11.4M in back wages, damages

The Mexican food chain did not pay minimum wage and overtime to roughly 1,000 current and former employees, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 12, 2023

Groups sue to stop NLRB joint employer rule

Business groups say a company simply trying to enforce brand or safety standards could be deemed a joint employer for labor-law purposes if the agency finalizes its rule.

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 10, 2023

Apple agrees to $25 million DOJ settlement for alleged discrimination against US workers

Companies using a green card program to hire applicants can’t discriminate against U.S. workers, the federal government agency said.

By Ginger Christ • Nov. 10, 2023

HR pros, organizations push back on DOL’s proposed overtime rule change

Commenters on the rule suggested the agency reduce the minimum increase threshold, delay the rule’s enactment or abandon it altogether.

By Emilie Shumway • Nov. 10, 2023

SHRM urges DOL to push overtime rule to 2025

The agency proposed a $55,000 salary threshold that would take effect 60 days after it is finalized.

By Kate Tornone • Nov. 9, 2023

3M on the hook for more than $300K in penalties after employee’s death

OSHA said Tuesday that the manufacturer could have prevented the incident at a Wisconsin plant had it followed federal workplace safety regulations.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 8, 2023

Construction groups sue over Davis-Bacon change

The prevailing wage rule update went into effect Oct. 23, and it could mean higher hourly wages for workers on major federal projects.

By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 8, 2023