NEWS & ANALYSIS


Jury Must Decide Telework Feasibility In EEOC Bias Case

By Patrick Hoff

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must take to trial most of its lawsuit alleging a pediatric clinic fired an employee because of her anxiety, a Georgia federal judge ruled Friday, saying jurors should weigh the clinic's evidence suggesting it would've been impractical to let her work remotely.

EEOC Sues Pearson Over Online Access For Visually Impaired

By Patrick Hoff

Educational publisher Pearson Education Inc. violated federal disability law when it failed to ensure visually impaired workers could access trainings and view benefits through online platforms, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission told a New Jersey federal court Friday.

Omni Worker Demoted After Seeking Sabbath Off, EEOC Says

By Patrick Hoff

Omni Hotels abruptly revoked a Chicago-based bellhop's ability to take Sundays off to observe the Sabbath and demoted him to part-time work, both in violation of federal civil rights law, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged in Illinois federal court.

Insulation Co.'s Owner Sexually Harassed Worker, EEOC Says

By Grace Elletson

An insulation company's owner sexually harassed an office manager for years by showing her naked pictures of women, spreading rumors about her sex life and touching her inappropriately, according to a suit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Vegas Casino Strikes Deal To End EEOC Religious Bias Suit

By Patrick Hoff

The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas has agreed to pay $850,000 to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit claiming it refused to accommodate employees' religious beliefs for nearly a decade, according to a filing Thursday in Nevada federal court.

New EEOC Suits Plummeted In The 1st Half Of 2025

By Amanda Ottaway

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed 20 fewer lawsuits in the five months since the second Trump administration began than it did during the same time period in 2024. Here’s a look at the cases filed so far by Trump's EEOC.

Pregnant Worker Fired After Telework Request, EEOC Says

By Grace Elletson

A restaurant franchisee fired an employee after she announced she was pregnant and asked to work from home to manage her pregnancy-related nausea, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a suit filed in South Dakota federal court.

Telemarketer Strikes $85K Deal To End EEOC Race Bias Suit

By Patrick Hoff

A telemarketing company agreed to pay $85,000 to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit claiming it unlawfully fired a Black employee after falsely accusing her of using profanity during a customer call, according to a filing in Ohio federal court.

EEOC Accuses Restaurant Of Sex Harassment, Pay Bias

By Patrick Hoff

The owner of a Missouri restaurant repeatedly made lewd comments to a female manager, paid her less than a male colleague and punished her when she tried to ignore his advances, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged in federal court.

Gymnastics Co. Cuts Deal In EEOC Sex Harassment Suit

By Grace Elletson

A gymnastics business will pay a former coach $50,000 to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit claiming the company's co-owner repeatedly propositioned her and other teen workers for sex, according to a Mississippi federal court filing.

Age Bias Taints Kansas Health Dept. Promotions, EEOC Says

By Grace Elletson

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment overlooked an older worker for promotions to more senior lab tech roles solely because of her age, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission told a federal court.

Nursing Home Supervisor Mocked Older Workers, EEOC Says

By Patrick Hoff

A New Mexico long-term care facility allowed employees over 40 to be belittled and held to different standards than younger workers, and workers who complained faced termination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged Wednesday in federal court.

Retirement Homes Reach Deal To End EEOC Race Bias Suit

By Grace Elletson

The operator of three retirement communities in the Washington, D.C., area agreed to pay $85,000 to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit accusing it of illegally passing over a Black worker for promotion and subsequently replacing her with a white employee.

General Motors Says Precedent 'Eviscerates' EEOC Bias Suit

By Grace Elletson

General Motors urged an Indiana federal judge Tuesday to toss a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit claiming it discriminated against older workers by reducing disability benefits if they also received Social Security, arguing the policy says nothing about age, allowing it to stand under high court precedent.

EEOC Says Survey Sent In Walmart ADA Suit Is Privileged

By Patrick Hoff

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shouldn't have to turn over communications with potential class members and third parties in its suit alleging Walmart used a training test to disqualify workers with disabilities, the agency told an Arkansas federal court, arguing that the information is private and protected.

EEOC Says Henry Ford Ignored Subpoena Over Bias Charge

By Grace Elletson

Michigan's Henry Ford health system has ignored a subpoena from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking information into a worker's bias charge, according to a federal court filing from the agency seeking an order enforcing the request.

Battery-Maker Resolves EEOC's Medical Release Policy Suit

By Patrick Hoff

A Michigan battery manufacturer and energy storage company agreed to pay $95,000 to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit accusing it of firing an office worker after he broke his wrist because he wasn't completely healed, according to a Thursday filing in federal court.

Miss. Blues Club Owner Groped Employee, EEOC Says

By Patrick Hoff

A co-owner of a Mississippi blues club made sexual comments to and groped an assistant manager, and the bar fired her after she escalated complaints about his behavior, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged in federal court.

Sheetz Applicant Seeks Helm In EEOC Criminal History Suit

By Grace Elletson

A Black job applicant wants to take over a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionsuit accusing convenience store chain Sheetz of using a biased policy to screen out workers with criminal histories, as the EEOC seeks to exit the case because of a presidential order disavowing the disparate impact theory.

Trans Worker Takes Over Harassment Suit After EEOC's Exit

By Grace Elletson

An Illinois federal judge on Thursday allowed a transgender former hog-farm worker to carry on a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit claiming she was sexually harassed on the job, after the agency dropped the case because it conflicted with a presidential executive order.