Employers who find themselves in the midst of a labor practices probe by the feds have the right to prepare to defend themselves, including by talking to their employees. But as a new ruling from the federal National Labor Relations…
Employment Law
Iowa's highest court ordered a school district to reinstate a fired teacher who had been placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP) and remanded her case to the district court for further proceedings. After receiving an unsatisfactory classroom evaluation, a…
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a white employee’s reverse discrimination claim. William Groves is a white athletic director who worked at the district for years. In 2017, he applied to serve as Corporation Director of Athletics. The superintendent,…
UPDATE: As expected, President Biden has signed the Speak Out Act into law, ushering in a new era of protection for victims of sexual misconduct who are subject to nondisclosure and/or non-disparagement agreements in connection with their employment. The new…
Terminations can be tricky – especially when an employee has recently been out on medical leave. Case in point: A company fired an employee four days after she returned to work from a medical leave due to a head injury…
An employee who survived the recent mass shooting at a Virginia Walmart has filed a negligence lawsuit against the company. Donya Prioleau has been employed as a Walmart associate since May 2021. She worked the overnight shift and was responsible…
Requests for accommodation on religious grounds can come up in some unusual ways. Exhibit A: In a recent case, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Buddhist airline pilot who balked at his employer’s…
It’s been a nagging and frustrating question for employers for decades now: When it comes to providing reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities, exactly how far do I have to go? Savvy employers are well aware of the concept of…
Idaho’s highest court negated a lower court ruling that said a doctor’s noncompete agreement could not be enforced. The case was sent back to the lower court for further proceedings. Dr. Donald Blaskiewicz, who is a highly trained neurosurgeon, was…
A federal appeals court has revived claims of sex and age discrimination filed by a psychiatrist who lost her job because she could not pass a physical ability test. The plaintiff in the case is Jane DiCocco, who was 67…
As #MeToo turns five, it's clear that the movement has generated an increased awareness about sexual harassment and assault. And as countless numbers of people shared their stories, one thing became all-too-clear: a lot of that harassment happened at work.…
A Texas jury has returned a verdict of more than $366 million to a former FedEx employee who said the package delivery giant engaged in retaliation because she complained about alleged racial discrimination. The award, which may be negated or…
How closely are you watching your employees? If it’s too closely, the feds may be watching you – and may soon be taking more aggressive action to stop it. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) just issued a memo announcing…
Manufactured conflict – a new form of workplace bullying – within organizations is on the rise, scorching your culture and best performers in its path. The Healthy Workplace Bill (HWB) proposed legislation could significantly increase the risk to your organization,…
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released a new notice-of-rights labor law poster for employers to display at their worksites. Under Title VII and other federal laws, covered employers must conspicuously post notices for employees that inform them…
Another holiday season is right around the corner, which means this employer-friendly ruling from the Sixth Circuit provides timely guidance -- just in time for Christmas, Hanukkah and other religious celebrations. The court upheld the terminations of two employees who…
