In past rulings, courts have shown that even one stray comment can be enough to get employers on the hook for discrimination. But in this recent case, a court ruled that a manager’s biased comment had nothing to do with…
Employment Law
The pressures and responsibilities of HR are difficult enough for a whole department of people, but when you're the only HR professional it's a matter of survival mode. Handling the workload, ensuring legal compliance, and avoiding extreme stress can be…
In a landmark 6-3 ruling on LGBTQ protections under Title VII, the U.S. Supreme Court put it bluntly: “An individual’s homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions.” The case, Bostock v. Clayton County – which the Court…
The ADA protects employees from disability-related termination, but what happens if the person never mentioned they had a disability? Here’s what the 2nd Circuit had to say about that question. No prior notice Jesse Longway worked at Myers Industries when…
When it comes to accommodating religious needs, employers often have to be lenient to avoid trouble. But a recent case complicated the matter when a candidate’s request for an accommodation directly interfered with the job requirements. Request posed hardships Mitche…
Can mild teasing result in a hostile work environment? In the case of one Croatian employee, yes. Here’s how the 11th Circuit weighed in on the issue. Mocking, rude behavior Rajko Dugandzic worked for Nike when he began to have…
Unlike an Alabama district court, an appeals court couldn’t see the difference between injured workers who couldn’t lift more than 20 pounds and a pregnant worker who couldn’t lift 50, since none of them could meet the requirement to lift…
The COVID-19 pandemic is the ultimate game-changer that has turned many things, especially business, on its head. Most companies have implementing work-from-home-arrangements for employees so they can keep things running. Along with all the cautions about online scams and email…
When a federal court ruled Ford Motor Co. was right to deny a disabled employee's ADA accommodation request to telecommute, many employers were thrilled. But don't pop any corks in celebration of the ruling that said "... regularly attending work…
When an employer subjected its employees to pervasive harassment, the EEOC had to get involved. Porous Materials, a manufacturer in Ithaca, NY, is under fire for harassment based on race, sex and national origin, according to a recent EEOC lawsuit.…
A Syosset, NY company sued by the EEOC for religious discrimination after employees said they were fired for refusing to participate in religious practices lost its bid to get a $394,991 award struck down and to get a new trial…
When one employee experienced racial harassment so severe he was forced to quit, the EEOC stepped in. Driven Fence, a fencing company outside of Chicago, was hit with a lawsuit from the EEOC after permitting a racially hostile work environment.…
A New Jersey state court of appeals ruled in January that an employer is obligated to pay for medical marijuana when the prescription is treating a job-related injury. The ruling in Hager v. M&K Construction is the first time a…
In a study by the Association for Talent Development (ATD), 71% of HR professionals said their company conducts sexual harassment prevention training. Meanwhile, 92% of U.S. adults believe changes need to be made to eliminate sexual harassment and assault in…
A wrongful termination claim can be filed in a court of law if an employee believes he or she has been ‘illegally’ fired from the job. Such claims result from an alleged violation of federal or state anti-discrimination laws, employment…
