The transition from an onsite workforce to a fully remote workforce was quick. And at the time, few really expected the pandemic to last as long as it has. Now, we have to deal with the fact most federal, state…
Employment Law
A jury ruled in favor of an employee who said his employer unlawfully neglected to reasonably accommodate his claustrophobia when it put him an an office with no window. Robert Turco was a senior project manager for Zambelli Fireworks, which…
When employers have issues with FMLA certifications it can make leave administration a true nightmare. But one of the best solutions to the problem often gets overlooked by employers. That solution: Going right to the doctor for help. That’s what…
Sometimes federal enforcement actions end with big payouts. But it isn’t very often that they get this big -- or include this unusual twist. A temporary placement agency will pay a total of $3.525 million to resolve allegations that it…
She asked a court for too much, and too soon. A judge refused to micromanage an employer's disciplinary process. A firefighter sued for sex discrimination while the incident she’s suing over was still being investigated. She asked the court to order…
A New Mexico federal judge refused to block a vaccine mandate for certain workers from going into effect. The court said data show the vaccines are safe and effective. It also said the vaccines provide immunity that “is significantly more…
A court refused to dismiss an equal protection claim filed by a gay firefighter who says he was subjected to discriminatory treatment in the workplace.Sex-based trash-talk and pranks are still the norm in some police and fire departments. But if…
A Mississippi staffing agency will pay $40,000 and take other steps to resolve a federal government lawsuit that alleged pregnancy bias. The suit accused the employer of illegally discriminating against a job applicant based on her pregnancy. The Equal Employment…
A judge said the “alleged spread of a contagious disease” among jail staff and inmates is a matter of public concern. So the judge has refused to dismiss a fired corrections employee’s First Amendment claim. The employee had issues with…
Does it violate the ADA if an employer denies an employee’s request to bring a support animal to the office? A recent court case addressed that very question. Anxiety attacks Nicholas Conlan worked as a marketer for Costco in Montana.…
Under California law, employers must immediately pay discharged employees all the wages they have earned. Employees who quit without providing prior notice must be paid all wages earned within 72 hours. If at least 72 hours of notice is provided,…
A new lawsuit accuses a Cedar City, Utah, car dealership of violating Title VII by engaging in religious discrimination. The suit says the dealership denied a Muslim employee religious accommodations. It also says the dealership fired the employee because he…
Be careful how you respond if an employee flunks a drug test. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) just resolved a lawsuit it filed against an employer. It had accused the employer of responding to an employee's two positive drug…
A fact issue existed as to whether an employee accepted an agreement to have any employment-related dispute resolved via arbitration. Therefore, a lower court wrongfully compelled arbitration of his race and age discrimination claims. That's what a new ruling from…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit rejected hostile work environment and retaliation claims. A transgender city worker filed the claims. The appeals court affirmed a lower court’s decision that the employer’s response to harassment against her was…
A Florida federal court tossed disability discrimination claims a former employee filed. Bungornluck Rodda has asthma. She worked at the University of Miami as an administrative assistant beginning in July 2007. She was let go in November 2017. The university…
