An onslaught of new lawsuits filed by the EEOC near the end of September demonstrates the wide scope of protection afforded to applicants and employees with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In five federal lawsuits filed within…
Employment Law
For HR pros, it’s a long-standing principle that company documentation can make or break an employer in court. On one hand, solid documentation can protect employers from potential legal trouble. But on the other hand, paperwork mistakes (like these common…
So you’ve decided to organize a fun activity for employees to participate in. Maybe you’ll set up a cornhole tournament or friendly softball game. Everyone can have a little fun and go home happy. What could possibly go wrong? The…
As the RTO wars continue, employers are pushing hard to get workers back into their cubicles, with some going so far as to “incentivize” office time with punitive consequences for noncompliance. But as this RTO lawsuit shows, some employers may…
Chipotle has agreed to pay $400,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit stemming from alleged manager misconduct, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) announced. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a Chipotle located in Sammamish, Washington, permitted three crew members –…
A manager’s mistake during discussions about an intern's lip ring doomed an employer’s chance to nip an ADA case in the bud. Here’s what went wrong: In January 2017, an Arizona school district hired Addam Brown – a doctoral candidate…
What’s the worst-case scenario for an employer that refuses to provide court-ordered relief to a mistreated employee? How about getting taken into custody by U.S. Marshals? Does it happen a lot? No. But is it possible? Yes, as two corporate…
A federal appeals court in New York has issued an important -- and pro-employee -- new ruling on the scope of protection afforded to applicants and employees by Title VII. The decision comes on the heels of another significant employee-friendly…
Earlier this spring, we gave you the top five employment law changes to closely monitor in 2023, and data privacy regulations made our short list. Now, a proposed $6.9 million class-action settlement to resolve data privacy claims verifies that the…
The basic premise of the FMLA is pretty straightforward: Eligible employees are entitled to take job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. But as HR pros know, the law has produced some tricky issues – and includes some rules…
Hooters of Louisiana, LLC has agreed to pay $650,000 to settle a race discrimination and retaliation suit, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) announced. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a Hooters location in Metairie subjected Black workers to a work…
When you think of prohibited sex discrimination under Title VII, what comes to mind? How about a workplace policy that says male employees can get weekends off but females can’t do the same? Seems pretty clear that’s unlawful sex discrimination,…
It’s officially back-to-school season! For HR, that means it’s time to get your ducks in a row and fall back into an efficient routine before open enrollment starts. We hope you enjoyed some well-deserved R&R this summer, whether you managed…
Beginning at the start of 2024, certain employers in specified industries will need to electronically submit injury and illness information to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Under the new rule, establishments with at least 100 employees in the…
A new NLRB ruling says an employee was improperly fired for asking “the most basic of employee questions.” The question, in essence: Where’s my paycheck? This story is about Carlos Martinez, who worked as a security officer for a company…
When you hear "FLSA lawsuits," you probably think about wage-and-hour disputes and overtime violations. But we've spotted an interesting trend in FLSA lawsuits filed this summer. Here's what HR needs to know: Customer service reps at three big-name companies have…
