When most HR leaders picture FMLA retaliation, they think of a termination letter. But it can also come disguised as a "choice"— resign or be fired. That's what the DOL said happened at the University of Tennessee, where an employee…
Employment Law
Missed payroll is a federal wage violation. A Newport Beach construction contractor learned that the hard way; it was ordered to pay $468,505 after the DOL found 137 workers went without pay and overtime. The case broadens the usual wage…
A federal court in Colorado rejected SHRM’s attempt to overturn an $11.5 million verdict for race discrimination and retaliation against a former employee. The decision offers three lessons for HR professionals. Case Overview: What Led to the Lawsuit Against SHRM…
Hospitality employers in California take note: Several cities in The Golden State have minimum wage increases for hotel employees soon taking effect. In addition to the new pay rates, some ordinances impose benefit, accrual and notice requirements. Here’s how the…
A single retaliation complaint to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) led to the overhaul of a company’s employment practices, including an external review of its complaint processes, reporting requirements to the state and changes to HR operations. The investigation…
In FY 2025, the EEOC secured $660 million for workers who reported employment discrimination – and most of that money was recovered before cases ever reached court. According to the agency’s FY 2025 performance report, the EEOC secured $528 million…
Hiring decisions often come together in email threads and quick back-and-forth with recruiters. That’s exactly where the problem showed up in this case. A technology consulting company has agreed to pay $495,000 to settle an EEOC lawsuit filed on behalf…
An IHOP franchisee operating in North and South Carolina violated federal overtime rules, resulting in $95,095 in back wages, according to a recent DOL investigation. The agency’s Wage and Hour Division found the franchisee paid 33 nonexempt employees working as…
Wage and hour litigation isn’t letting up, and the latest data puts a clear dollar figure on just how much FLSA lawsuits can cost employers. A new report from Seyfarth Shaw LLP tracks how federal FLSA lawsuits are being…
A remote work accommodation dispute turned into a wrongful death case with eight-figure liability. In Larkin v. Total Quality Logistics, LLC, an Ohio jury found an employer’s failure to approve a work-from-home request for a high-risk pregnancy contributed to the…
The Fifth Circuit recently upheld a jury verdict denying overtime pay – even after a court found the worker had been misclassified as an independent contractor. The decision turned on a key FLSA requirement for overtime pay: An employer must…
A new challenge has emerged for HR: Employees are filing internal workplace complaints that read like legal documents. Not long ago, such complaints were relatively straightforward: An employee raised a concern and expected HR to address it. Now, many employees…
A residential construction company in Idaho learned the hard way that unpaid overtime adds up quickly – in this case, totaling $293,698 in back wages. What started as overtime missteps soon escalated when a federal investigation looked into the company’s…
As global hiring expands, Employer of Record software has become an essential solution for HR teams seeking to manage international talent and remain compliant with local laws. Often called an EOR, this model lets a third-party provider act as the…
A California carwash has agreed to pay $1.2 million to resolve "widespread wage theft" and other labor law violations, according to the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO). The payout will reimburse 23 affected employees for unpaid wages. State Investigators Uncover…
A Little Caesars franchisee will pay $409,457 for federal wage and hour violations, the Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced. The case shows how payroll mistakes can turn into expensive liabilities when overtime calculations and recordkeeping controls fall short. Wage…
