Discrimination

  • 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alleged religious discrimination in Florida federal court, alleging an employee was forced to resign after her managers rescinded her Sabbath accommodation and required her to work on Saturdays.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.

  • May 05, 2025

    3rd Circ. Revives Ex-NJ College Prof's Gender Bias Suit

    The Third Circuit said a jury should review a Ukrainian ex-professor's claim that The College of New Jersey declined to renew her contract out of gender bias, finding concerns with her commitment could have been driven by her pregnancy.

  • May 05, 2025

    How Law Firms Have Handled The EEOC's Push For DEI Data

    Perkins Coie LLP dug in its heels and scored a court order quashing the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's inquiry into its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, while seven other firms the EEOC targeted opted to negotiate. Here’s what Law360 knows about what law firms have done in response to the commission’s March request for workplace diversity information.

  • May 05, 2025

    National Guard Worker Challenges Trump Order On Gender

    The National Guard Bureau violated federal civil rights law when it barred transgender employees from using bathrooms and exercise facilities that align with their gender identity, according to a complaint Monday challenging the Trump administration's policy recognizing only two "immutable" sexes.

  • May 05, 2025

    Wash. Panel Quizzes State In Biologist's Vax Mandate Case

    Washington appellate judges hinted on Monday they might revive an ex-state biologist's suit claiming she was wrongfully denied a religious accommodation to keep her position without getting the COVID-19 vaccination, citing factual questions as to whether her job duties were essential and whether she was technically fired.  

  • May 05, 2025

    Fla. Judge Wants Briefs In ACA Trans Health Fight

    A Florida federal judge Monday requested briefing from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the state of Florida on how to handle a suit challenging the Biden administration's regulations clarifying gender identity-based discrimination under the Affordable Care Act.

  • May 05, 2025

    Levi Strauss Beats Former Exec's Sex-Bias Suit At Trial

    A California federal jury Monday cleared Levi Strauss of sex-bias claims brought by a former company executive who claims she was skipped over for a senior director's role after announcing her pregnancy, reaching their decision in about 20 minutes after a one-week trial.

  • May 05, 2025

    7th Circ. Judge Slams University's Args In En Banc Denial

    The Seventh Circuit on Friday denied en banc review of a panel's decision to revive a Chicago law professor's retaliation suit after he was disciplined for including a redacted racist slur on an exam, with one judge suggesting the university's failure to invoke arguments over its right to academic freedom meant the appeal didn't justify consideration by the full court.

  • May 05, 2025

    Pa. District Paid Female Teachers Thousands Less, Jury Told

    Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania unfairly paid female teachers less than their male counterparts, in some cases by tens of thousands of dollars despite holding the same jobs, a federal jury was told Monday.

  • May 05, 2025

    IHOP Franchisee, Ex-Server End Sex Harassment Suit

    A North Carolina federal judge agreed to dismiss a legal battle between an IHOP franchisee and a former server who said she was fired for rejecting a manager's sexual advances, as the parties had said a previous ruling from another judge doomed the worker's suit.

  • May 05, 2025

    USPS Wraps Up Religious Bias Suit That Went To High Court

    The U.S. Postal Service and a Christian former mail carrier agreed to end a lawsuit that prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to raise the legal bar for employers seeking to deny workers' faith-based accommodation requests, according to a filing Monday in Pennsylvania federal court.

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

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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.