BJ’s Restaurant arbitration agreement was valid without employer’s signature, 5th Cir. holds

The past two years have brought significant litigation, legislation and enforcement targeting arbitration agreements.

By Laurel Kalser • Oct. 16, 2023

Unfair labor practice charges, union petitions continue to rise, NLRB says

Greater publicity may factor into the equation.

By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 16, 2023

SHRM urges EEOC to narrow proposed pregnancy accommodation rule

Much of the feedback from other sources focused on the more controversial inclusion of abortion as a protected pregnancy-related medical condition.

By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 16, 2023

California sets $25 per hour minimum wage for healthcare workers

The law, backed by healthcare unions, is expected to affect approximately 469,000 healthcare workers and will be phased in over the next several years.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 16, 2023

GE to pay $61M to settle 401(k) fund mismanagement allegations

The payout represents the “largest ever in an ERISA case alleging a retirement plan improperly offered proprietary funds,” according to the plaintiffs.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 13, 2023

DOL won’t extend overtime rule comment period

Stakeholder submissions will be due Nov. 7 as planned.

By Kate Tornone • Oct. 12, 2023

California law gives workers 5 days of leave for reproductive loss

“Reproductive loss” includes failed adoption, failed surrogacy, miscarriage, stillbirth and unsuccessful assisted reproduction.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 11, 2023

‘A low bar’: How California’s new workplace violence prevention plan aims to make workplaces safer

The new law is the first in the U.S. to establish an industrywide workplace violence prevention standard and could lead other states to follow, experts say.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 11, 2023

Dollar General workers were forced to pump in ‘unsanitary’ stockrooms, restrooms, complaint alleges

“It is what it is,” a manager allegedly told one former worker when she complained.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 11, 2023

California Gov. Newsom vetoes caste discrimination bill

While the state’s effort faltered, other jurisdictions on the Pacific Coast moved forward with their own caste discrimination bans.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 10, 2023

Federal LGBTQ+ workplace protections could land some schools in hot water

Schools could be caught between proposed EEOC guidance and state policies restricting facility access and pronoun usage for transgender employees.

By Naaz Modan • Oct. 10, 2023

Employee’s firing 1 day after exhausting FMLA leave raises questions, 5th Cir. says

Ignoring its progressive discipline policy, a Texas city allegedly decided to fire an employee within minutes after she didn’t show up for work, according to the court record.

By Laurel Kalser • Oct. 9, 2023

Ex-HR manager asks for jury trial, claims she was fired for raising race bias concerns

Video game publisher Bungie unlawfully retaliated against the plaintiff after she objected to the firing of a Black employee, her suit alleged.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 6, 2023

Conservative legal group wants EEOC to strike out MLB’s diversity initiatives

America First Legal, led by former Trump Administration Advisor Stephen Miller, said MLB’s programs are discriminatory.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 6, 2023

‘Nothing to promote safety’: EEOC slams Union Pacific Railroad for disability discrimination

The railroad required workers to take an unnecessary “light cannon” test, the EEOC alleged.

By Caroline Colvin • Oct. 5, 2023

Starbucks asks Supreme Court to intervene in union fight

If the Supreme Court sided with Starbucks, the change would make it more difficult for the National Labor Relations Board to reinstate, in a timely fashion, workers fired for protected activity.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 5, 2023

Research center refused to hire Asian applicants as COVID-19 contact tracers, DOL alleges

An OFCCP evaluation found that the organization discriminated against more than 100 Asian job applicants, DOL said.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 4, 2023

Under Democratic control, EEOC makes ‘roaring return’ to high levels of litigation

The agency more than doubled its discrimination lawsuits in fiscal year 2023.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 3, 2023

EEOC proposes harassment guidance covering misgendering, remote work

The enforcement document is more than half a decade in the making.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 2, 2023

Wingstop franchisee in California cited $3M for labor violations

The owner created separate corporate entities for his restaurants, depriving employees of a higher minimum wage, overtime pay and meal break premiums, the state alleged.

By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 2, 2023

Appeals court says Hyatt wrongfully delayed paying out vacation time in COVID-19-driven layoffs

In making the decision, the court had to turn to California labor documentation from over 20 years ago.

By Ginger Christ • Oct. 2, 2023

Tyson, Hormel face class action over worker compensation

Executives allegedly held secret meetings and “off-the-books” dinners to discuss worker pay rates, supporting a “plausible inference” of a conspiracy to suppress wages.

By Nathan Owens • Oct. 2, 2023

Judge rejects employer’s argument that DOL’s FLSA salary test is illegal

An Austin, Texas, restaurant operator claimed the agency lacked statutory authority to set a minimum salary threshold for executive, administrative and professional employees.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 29, 2023

EEOC alleges Chipotle supervisor pulled on, removed Muslim worker’s hijab

The case may point to the need for anti-harassment training for managers.

By Emilie Shumway • Sept. 29, 2023

Racial slurs ‘casual and normal’ at Tesla factory, EEOC says

In a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, the agency alleged a pervasive pattern of racism against Black employees at the carmaker’s plant in Fremont.

By Kalena Thomhave • Sept. 29, 2023