Discrimination

  • May 07, 2025

    Illinois Seeks Exit From Suit Over Demographic Data Law

    Illinois asked a federal judge to toss a lawsuit brought by a group called the American Alliance for Equal Rights that seeks to block the state from enforcing a law requiring nonprofits to publicize their demographic data, saying the organization has no standing to bring the claims.

  • May 07, 2025

    NY Legal Aid Union Accused Of Antisemitism At NLRB, EEOC

    A United Auto Workers affiliate representing attorneys at a New York legal services organization violated federal laws when the union thwarted antisemitism measures in the workplace, a nonprofit alleged Wednesday in announcing charges it filed at the National Labor Relations Board and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

  • May 07, 2025

    9th Circ. Axes Fired University Worker's 1st Amendment Fight

    The Ninth Circuit on Wednesday refused to revive a lawsuit claiming two former University of Arizona officials fired a health sciences employee because of his husband's criticisms of a hiring process, saying the administrators are immune from the worker's free speech claim.

  • May 07, 2025

    Similar Federal Suit Found To Bar A&M Texarkana Bias Case

    A state appeals court has said Texas A&M University-Texarkana could escape an employment discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee, ruling that his claims are barred by a nearly identical suit he previously filed in federal court.

  • May 07, 2025

    6th Circ. Weighs Muldrow's Impact On Prof.'s Trans Bias Suit

    The Sixth Circuit wrestled Wednesday with whether the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Muldrow decision warrants giving a transgender Kent State University professor a second chance at lawsuit alleging a promised promotion was revoked because of their gender identity.

  • May 07, 2025

    Veterinary Pathologist's Pay Bias Suit Teed Up For Trial

    A New Jersey federal judge said a jury needs to probe a veterinary pathologist's claims that an animal health company unlawfully paid her less than two male co-workers, ruling there isn't enough proof to definitely say whether they performed equal work.

  • May 07, 2025

    2nd Circ. Backs NYC Win In IT Worker's Bias, Retaliation Suit

    A former New York City telecommunications employee cannot revive her lawsuit alleging she was pushed out after managers scheduled meetings during her lunch because she reported a supervisor's inappropriate touching, the Second Circuit ruled Wednesday, saying there's no evidence the managers knew her migraines necessitated a specific lunch break.

  • May 07, 2025

    6th Circ. Seems Hesitant To Revive UMich Law Prof's Bias Suit

    The Sixth Circuit appeared skeptical Wednesday about reopening a Black University of Michigan Law School professor's suit alleging she was unlawfully disciplined after she complained about race discrimination, with the panel questioning if she adequately refuted the school's nondiscriminatory reasons for its action.

  • May 07, 2025

    Facility Support Co. Settles Fired Worker's Race Bias Suit

    A maintenance and facility support company has agreed to settle a Black former worker's suit claiming she was pushed out of her supervisory role to make space for a white employee, according to a Wednesday filing in Georgia federal court.

  • May 07, 2025

    Home Retailer Agrees To End EEOC Disability Bias Probe

    A manufactured homes dealer in Oregon agreed to update its antidiscrimination policies to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation into claims that it fired an employee for requesting a schedule change because of her disability.

  • May 07, 2025

    Mental Health Group Failed To Rein In Harasser, EEOC Says

    A mental health organization stood by while a male supervisor harassed female co-workers with unwanted hugs and sexual comments, costing one worker her job after his behavior triggered her mental health disorders, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission told a North Carolina federal court.

  • May 07, 2025

    Trump Taps Assistant US Atty To Join EEOC

    President Donald Trump has nominated an assistant U.S. attorney in Florida to fill one of the three open seats on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

  • May 06, 2025

    Potential For DEI-Related Suits Vexes Employers, Report Says

    Businesses are increasingly worried about facing litigation centering on their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives amid the Trump administration's vocal opposition to DEI, but employers aren't in a rush to overhaul workplace diversity programs, according to a new report issued by Littler Mendelson PC.

  • May 06, 2025

    Indian IT Co. Can't Nix White Ex-Worker's American Bias Suit

    A New Jersey federal judge declined to toss a white American worker's bias suit claiming he was laid off from an information technology company that favored Indian and South Asian workers, ruling the business can't dodge the complaint even if it mirrors allegations brought by another employee.

  • May 06, 2025

    Marriott Accused Of Revoking Sabbath Accommodation In Fla.

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Marriott for alleged religious discrimination in Florida federal court, alleging an employee was forced to resign after her managers rescinded her Sabbath accommodation and required her to work on Saturdays.

  • May 06, 2025

    10th Circ. Backs Army In Explosives Supervisor's Bias Suit

    The Tenth Circuit declined Tuesday to revive an age and gender bias suit from a U.S. Army explosives supervisor who said she was unlawfully denied a promotion, ruling she failed to overcome the Army's argument that a poor interview stopped her from moving up.

  • May 06, 2025

    11th Circ. Seems Open To Reviving Coal Workers' Bias Suit

    The Eleventh Circuit on Tuesday appeared inclined to reinstate a race discrimination suit brought against a coal company by two Black former employees, with one judge saying the case could present two narratives for jurors to sort out.

  • May 06, 2025

    Technician's Bias Suit Against Union, Studios Tossed For Now

    A New York federal judge Tuesday tossed an electrical technician's suit accusing an entertainment industry union local of employing admissions and job referral practices that discriminate against Black and Latino applicants seeking work at major production studios.

  • May 06, 2025

    Jay-Z Claims Atty Buzbee's Conspiracy Extends To NY Lawyer

    Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter expanded his malicious prosecution claims against attorney Tony Buzbee over a rape suit that has since been dropped to also target a New York personal injury lawyer over what the music mogul alleged was a conspiracy to coerce him into paying off their client.

  • May 06, 2025

    McCarter & English Pushes To End Ex-Atty's Firing Suit

    McCarter & English LLP has urged a New Jersey state court to toss an anti-veteran discrimination suit from a former firm attorney and Navy SEAL this week, arguing the lawyer is unsuccessfully trying to pivot off failed claims from his original complaint in later filings.

  • May 06, 2025

    Approach The Bench: Judge Robinson On Workplace Conduct

    A long-awaited survey of judiciary employees revealed misconduct is rare within the federal judiciary, but U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson says there's still plenty of work to be done.

  • May 06, 2025

    Costco Can't Bar Harassment Probe Talk, NLRB Judge Says

    Costco unlawfully maintained overly broad rules in an investigations form and barred a North Carolina worker from talking about the outcome of her internal sexual harassment complaint, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled, finding a clause allowing employment terms discussions did not shield the company from violating federal labor law.

  • May 06, 2025

    High Court Lets Transgender Troop Ban Take Effect

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted a Washington federal judge's nationwide order barring implementation of the Pentagon's ban on transgender military service, allowing the controversial policy to take effect while its constitutionality is challenged.

  • May 06, 2025

    Disparate Impact Shift May Prevent EEOC Action On AI Bias

    The Trump administration's directive that federal agencies stop recognizing disparate impact discrimination will likely stymie potential U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforcement aimed at bias related to artificial intelligence, pushing states and private plaintiffs to the forefront of regulating workplace AI, experts say.

  • May 06, 2025

    Charter School System Settles DOJ Vaccine Bias Suit

    An Oklahoma City charter school system will pay $95,000 to end a U.S. Department of Justice suit alleging it fired a worker who refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine because of his religion, the DOJ said.

Expert Analysis

  • Top 10 Employer Resolutions For 2025

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    While companies must monitor for policy shifts under the new administration in 2025, it will also be a year to play it safe and remember the basics, such as the importance of documenting retention policies and conducting swift investigations into workplace complaints, say attorneys at Krevolin Horst.

  • What To Expect From EEOC Next Year After An Active 2024

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    While highlights this year for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission include its first-ever Pregnant Workers Fairness Act cases and comprehensive workplace harassment guidance, the question for 2025 is whether the commission will sustain its momentum or shift its focus in a new direction, says Shannon Kelly at GrayRobinson.

  • Ledbetter's Legacy Shines In 2024 Equal Pay Law Updates

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    The federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act turned 15 this year, and its namesake's legacy is likely to endure in 2025 and beyond, as demonstrated by 2024's state- and local-level progress on pay equity, as well as several rulings from federal appellate courts, say attorneys at Fisher Phillips.

  • What Employers Should Consider When Drafting AI Policies

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    As generative artificial intelligence continues to evolve and transform the workplace, employers should examine six issues when creating their corporate AI policies in order to balance AI's efficiencies with the oversight needed to prevent potential biases and legal pitfalls, say attorneys at Jackson Lewis.

  • Eye On Compliance: When Calif. Jobs Require Driver Licenses

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    With a California law banning unnecessarily requiring job applicants to have driver's licenses rolling out Jan. 1, employers should take to heart the law's goal of preventing discriminatory barriers while they assess and revise their employment materials for compliance, says Ani Khachatryan at Wilson Elser.

  • Ring In The New Year With An Updated Employee Handbook

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    One of the best New Year's resolutions employers can make is to update their employee handbooks, given that a handbook can mitigate, or even prevent, costly litigation as long as it accounts for recent changes in laws, court rulings and agency decisions, say attorneys at Kutak Rock.

  • 5 Employer Defenses To Military Status Discrimination Claims

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    A Colorado federal court's recent ruling, finding a Navy reservist wasn't denied promotion at his civilian job due to antimilitary bias, highlights several defenses employers can use to counter claims of violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, say attorneys at Littler Mendelson.

  • Justices Mull Sex-Based Classification In Trans Law Case

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    After the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in U.S. v. Skrmetti this week, it appears that the fate of the Tennessee law at the center of the case — a law banning gender-affirming healthcare for transgender adolescents — will hinge on whether the majority read the statute as imposing a sex-based classification, says Alexandra Crandall at Dickinson Wright.

  • Pa. Ruling Highlights Challenges Of Employer Arb. Appeals

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    A Pennsylvania federal court's recent ruling in Welch Foods v. General Teamsters Local Union No. 397 demonstrates the inherent difficulties employers face when seeking relief from labor arbitration decisions through appeals in court — and underscores how employers are faced with often conflicting legal priorities, says Daniel Johns at Cozen O'Connor.

  • 7 Ways To Prepare For An I-9 Audit Or Immigration Raid

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    Because immigration enforcement is likely to surge under the upcoming Trump administration, employers should take steps to ensure their staff is trained in employment eligibility verification requirements and what to do in the event of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement I-9 audit or workplace raid, say attorneys at Littler.

  • California Supreme Court's Year In Review

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    Attorneys at Horvitz & Levy highlight notable decisions on major questions from the California Supreme Court's last term, including voter initiatives, hostile work environment and the economic loss rule.

  • Disentangling Various Forms Of Workplace Discrimination

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    Pay inequity can be missed where it exists and misidentified due to incorrect statistics, leaving individuals to face multiple facets of discrimination connected by a common root cause, meaning correct identification and measurement is crucial, says Daniel Levy at Advanced Analytical.

  • Key Requirements In New Maryland Pay Transparency Laws

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    Although several jurisdictions now require pay transparency in job advertisements, Maryland's new law is among the broadest in the country, both in terms of what is required and the scope of its applicability, says Sarah Belger at Quarles & Brady.