Showing 8 posts from February 2015.
Abercrombie & Fitch Doesn't look too good to Supreme Court
In a case we discussed earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court did not appear impressed with Abercrombie & Fitch's recent argument that a hijab wearing applicant needed to ask for religious accommodation before they were obliged to grant it to her. News sources have reported that oral argument this past Wednesday seemed to favor Samantha Elauf's right to an accommodation even though the teenage, Muslim job applicant in Tulsa did not explicitly tell Abercrombie & Fitch that she was wearing the black head scarf for religious reasons. More ›
Fourth Circuit Finds EEOC's Expert Report Unreliable Under Federal Rules of Evidence
As part of an employer's business in providing integrated services for high level events, it commenced background checks of all prospective employees, including credit checks for positions dealing with "credit sensitive" information. An employee who was denied a position based on the employer's credit filed suit with the EEOC. The EEOC later issued a letter of determination that the employer's background and credit checks violated Title VII. The claim was later amended to state the background and credit checks also had a disparate impact on black applicants. More ›
Department of Labor: Married Same-Sex Couples have FMLA Rights Regardless of State of Residence
The U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") recently announced its Final Rule changing the definition of "spouse" in the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") to include most same-sex married couples. The Final Rule becomes effective March 27, 2015. More ›
Healthy Workplace, Healthy Families Act of 2014, California's Paid Sick Leave Law, to take Effect
—Starting July 1, 2015, California will join numerous other states in requiring employers provide employees with paid sick leave pursuant to the Health Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014. More ›
Spiritual Director Doesn't have a Prayer when it Comes to her Discrimination and Termination Claims
Religious employers can rejoice once again, as yet another court upholds the ministerial exception and dismisses an employee's discrimination and termination claims.
For those who are not familiar with this defense, the ministerial exception basically says that the government cannot step in and second-guess a religious entity's decision to hire and fire its ministerial employees. Doing so would potentially violate the First Amendment and would run afoul of the separation of church and state. This means that ministerial employees of religious employers cannot sue for things like discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or termination, because that would be asking the court, in essence, to decide whether the religious employer was right in doing what it did. More ›
Supervisor not "Qualified Individual" Under ADA after Failing DOT Medical Certification
Determining the essential functions of a job can be tricky, especially if there is no information or documentation with which to compare and consider. In this case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit considered job qualifications in the context of essential functions, and ultimately found that the employee failed to demonstrate that he was qualified or could perform the essential functions of his position after failing a required DOT medical certification. As a result, he could not maintain his ADA claim against his former employer. More ›
Supreme Court: Ordinary Contract Principles do not Allow Inference of Vesting Rights Absent Clear and Express Language
In 2000, M&G Polymers purchased the Point Pleasant Polyester Plant in Apple Grove, WV. At that time, M&G entered into a collective-bargaining agreement and a related Pension, Insurance, and Service Award Agreement (P & I Agreement) with the union. The P & I Agreement provided for medical coverage with a full employer contribution to be provided for the duration of the agreement, subject to future negotiations. When those agreements expired, M&G announced that it would require retirees to contribute to the cost of their health care benefits. Several retirees sued M&G in federal district court, alleging that the P & I Agreement created a vested right to a lifetime contribution of free healthcare benefits. More ›
Nurse's poor work Performance Outweighs Claims of Whistleblower Retaliation
Lisa Pedersen was a dialysis clinic nurse who was responsible for assessing patients, working with physicians, and administering medication to patients. Pedersen was counseled about aggression in the workplace and other performance issues, which led her to become upset and yell at her manager. During a discussion later that day, Pederson articulated, for the first time, that she had previously noticed that a box of blood samples were incorrectly packaged and that she believed them to be compromised. Pedersen then notified another manager, a customer service representative, a vice president, and an employee relations manager of the suspected compromised samples. She also advised all parties that she felt she would be retaliated against as a result of exposing the potential contamination. More ›
Topics
- Older Workers
- New York Labor Law
- Opinion Letter
- Hours Worked
- Compensable Time
- Time Records
- Commuting Time
- Equal Pay for Equal Work
- Rest Period
- Wage Order 9
- 24-hour shifts
- ambulance attendant
- meal period
- off-duty rest
- premium wage
- Audit
- automobile sales exemption
- fair reading
- narrow construction
- job classification
- job classification audit
- Temporary Schedule Change
- Fair Workweek Law
- New York City
- Black Lives Matter
- 42 U.S.C. s. 1981
- disparate treatment
- Racial Discrimination
- Severe & Pervasive
- Objectively Offensive
- Subjectively Offensive
- Massachusetts Equal Pay Act
- MEPA
- Attorney General Guidance
- Comparable Work
- Salary History
- Salary Inquiries
- Pay Inquiries
- Self Evaluations
- Florida Civil Rights Act
- Opposition
- Unlawful Employment Practice
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act
- PDA
- Childbirth
- Trans
- Transitioning
- Sex Stereotyping
- 2nd Circuit
- equality
- Zarda v. Altitude Express
- FCRA
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Wisconsin Fair Employment Act
- WFEA
- Criminal Conviction
- Arrest Record
- Hiring Policy
- Substantial Relationship
- Protected Speech
- Anti-discrimination Policy
- Anti-harassment Policy
- Diversity
- Diversity Policy
- Social Media Policy
- Electronic Communication Policy
- Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
- SCOTUS
- Securities Fraud
- Student Loans
- Gig Worker
- Gig Economy
- Employer-Employee Relationship
- Borello Test
- Employee
- Exclusive Remedy
- Wis. Stat. ch. 102
- Tort Liability
- Temp Employee
- Temporary Help Agency
- Leased Employee
- Claim for Compensation
- Negligence
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act
- Fraud
- Internal Complaints
- Form 300A
- Annual Summary
- Fines
- Willful and Repeat
- Serious Violation
- Other-than-Serious Violation
- 2015 Inflation Adjustment Act
- Students
- Interns
- Internal Revenue Service
- IRS Notice 1036
- Payroll
- Payroll Taxes
- Social Security
- Supplemental Wages
- Withholdings
- Tax Reform Act
- Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
- Income Tax
- 2018 Withholding Tables
- Joint Employment
- Browning-Ferris
- Right to Control
- Joint Control
- Essential Employment Terms
- Direct and Immediate
- California Family Rights Act
- Parental Leave
- Sexual Orientation Discrimination
- AB 1008
- Ban the Box
- Department of Economic Opportunity
- compliance audit
- ADA Interference
- 42 U.S.C. ยง 12203(b)
- 7th Circuit
- Disability Discrimination
- Union
- Union Organizing
- New York Paid Family Leave
- Paid Leave
- NY State Department of Taxation
- Serious Health Condition
- military duty
- Tax Implications
- PFL
- New York Average Weekly Wage
- Obama Administration
- Illinois Human Rights Act
- Emotional Distress
- Workplace bullying
- Extreme or Outrageous
- Salary test
- EAP Exemption
- State of Nevada v. US Department of Labor
- Family Medical Leave Act
- Incentives
- A.A.R.P. vs. U.S. E.E.O.C.
- employer sponsored
- Medical History
- mandatory
- Voluntary
- ACA
- San Francisco Parity in Pay Ordinance
- California Labor Code Section 1197.5
- Fiduciary
- Fiduciary Duty
- Professional Exemption
- Executive Exemption
- Outside Sales Exemption
- Computer Exemption
- Request for Information
- Highly Compensated Employees
- Secretary of Labor
- notice
- Domestic Violence
- California Labor Code
- California Labor Code s. 230.1
- Interactive Process
- Sexual Assault
- Stalking
- PTO
- Paid Time Off
- National Labor Relations Act
- Union Organizing
- Protected Concerted Activity
- Jefferson Standard
- Disparaging
- Labor Dispute
- 8th Circuit
- Vacation Pay
- Vested Rights
- Vacation Policy
- Vacation accrual
- Waiting period
- Pregnant worker protections
- M.G.L. Chapter 151B
- Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- Employment Contract
- At-will employment
- only when rule
- Wisconsin Court of Appeals
- Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- USCIS
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad
- E-Verify
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
- handicap discrimination
- Drug Free Workplace Act
- Hawkins-Slater Medical Marijuana Act
- Rhode Island
- Hiring Practices
- Drug Free Workplace Policies
- Drug Testing
- Gender Nonconformity
- Sick Leave
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time ordinance
- St. Paul Sick and Safe Time ordinance
- Child Labor Laws
- Minors
- Minor Employees
- Work Permits
- Street Trade Permits
- Restaurants
- Grocers
- Manufacturers
- Teenage Labor
- Department of Workforce Development
- DWD
- protected class
- protected activity
- Delaware
- pay gap
- compensation history
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Public employers
- private employers
- federal government
- state government
- employer
- RIF
- Reduction in Force
- Circuit Split
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
- enterprise coverage
- goods vs. materials
- Aiding and Abetting
- conviction record
- New York State Human Rights Law
- NYSHRL
- Work Schedules
- Fast Food
- Retail
- Fair Workweek laws
- pension plans
- religiously affiliated employers
- church plans
- ERISA section 4(b)(2)
- statutory exemption
- Anti-Retaliation Rule
- Safety Programs
- Workplace Policies
- Injury and Illness Reporting
- Workplace Injury Reporting
- Electronic Reporting
- Salary inquiry
- pay history
- racial equality
- ethnic equality
- fair pay
- Health Insurance
- Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act of 2009
- Fairfax Memo
- American Health Care Act
- AHCA
- ObamaCare
- Trump Administration
- Employer Mandate
- Section 8
- marijuana
- SEC
- Securities & Exchange Commission
- age-based harassment
- disability-based harassment
- sex-based harassment
- sexual orientation-based harassment
- gender identity-based harassment
- Injuctive Relief
- final rule
- webinar
- workplace injury
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Exempt Employee
- Trump
- republican
- administration
- Right to Work
- Affirmative Action
- EEO-1
- Fiduciary Rule
- minimum wage
- executive order
- eeo laws
- cook county
- Section 7
- Unfair labor practice
- strike
- collective bargaining
- permanent replacement employees
- burden shifting
- convincing mosaic
- evidentiary burdens
- bereavement
- unpaid leave
- confidentiality agreement
- employee handbook
- employer policies
- misappropriation
- defendant trade secrets act of 2016
- pay equity
- gender equality
- gay rights
- lesbian rights
- unemployment
- Tipped workers
- Illinois Minimum Wage Law
- Temporary workers
- Employee Benefits
- Penalties
- posting requirements
- constructive discharge
- Administrative Exemption
- Wellness Programs
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- department of labor
- Transgender Rights
- LGBTQ Rights
- administrative warrant
- Confidential Information
- trade secrets
- Unpaid Wages
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Labor Code
- Discrimination & Harassment
- interference
- Preemption
- National Labor Relations Board
- Shameless
- Criminal History
- LGBTQ
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Medical Marijuana
- EEOC
- Arbitration
- Discrimination
- Agreements
- 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Disability & Medical Leave
- Expert
- Joint Employers
- wisconsin
- California Court of Appeal
- Media Mention
- Case Updates
- United States Supreme Court
- Fair Employment and Housing Act
- Opinion
- Independent Contractor v. Employee
- Removal
- Bankruptcy
- Judicial Estoppel
- Quid Pro Quo
- Freedom of Speech
- Exempt Status
- Picket
- Gender Bias
- Immigration
- H-1B
- News
- Affordable Care Act
- Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Eleventh Circuit
- First Amendement
- New Jersey
- Paid Sick Time
- Leave
- Eighth Circuit
- IRS
- Meal & Rest Break
- EEOC
- Nebraska
- Religious Discrimination
- Undue Hardship
- Arbitration
- 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Hostile Work Environment
- New York
- Sexual Harassment
- ADA
- Anxiety
- Disability
- South Dakota
- ADEA
- OWBPA
- Settlement Agreement
- Texas
- Tenth Circuit
- California
- FMLA
- Estoppel
- Retaliation
- Benefits
- Wages
- Mandatory Arbitration
- ERISA
- Non-compete
- Age Discrimination
- Accommodation
- 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Electronic Communications
- Texting
- Second Circuit
- Tax
- Wage & Hour
- Class Action
- Ninth Circuit
- Privacy
- SCA
- FLSA
- Volunteers
- Discrimination
- GINA
- Title VII
- Massachusetts
- NLRA
- NLRB
- Bargaining
- Seventh Circuit
- Union
- Undocumented Workers
- Health Care
- Supreme Court
- HIPAA
- HHS
- Wellness
- Harassment
- Supervisor
- Burden of Proof
- Pregnancy Discrimination
- Pretext
- Internships
- PAGA
- Similarly Situated
- Termination
- Union Dues
- Class Certification
- Overtime
- Rest Breaks
- Exemption
- Third Circuit
- Fitness-For-Duty
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Labor
- Missouri
- D.C. Circuit
- Fourth Circuit
- CFAA
- Injunction
- First Circuit
- Collective Action
- Meal Breaks
- USERRA
- Federal Contracts
- OFCCP
- Employment Verification
- I-9
- Gender Discrimination
- Title IX
- CAFA
- California Supreme Court
- Legislation
- President Obama
- 42 USC 1983
- Failure to Accomodate
- Reasonable Accomodation
- Employment
- Hiring
- Sanctions
- Sixth Circuit
- Michigan
- Race Discrimination
- Florida
- Workers Compensation
- Corporations
- Standing
- 17200
- Statute of Limitations
- UCL
- Subpoena
- Fifth Circuit
- Travel Time
- Deaf
- Dues
- Class Waiver
- Ohio
- Witness Statements
- Military
- Illinois
- Virginia
- Wrongful Termination
- Religion
- DACA
- Investigation
- Independent Contractors
- Eavesdropping
- Dodd-Frank
- Whistleblower
- Severance
- FICA
- Rehabilitation Act
- Right-to-Sue
- Policies
- Social Media
- Loss of Consortium
- Oklahoma
- Pension
- MSHA
- Medical Examination
- Exhaustion of Remedies
- Election
- WARN
- Title VII Retaliation; Faragher/Ellerth
- Salespersons
- EPA
- Equal Pay Act
- Racial Harassment
- Cat's Paw
- National Origin Discrimination
- Partnership
- FEHA
- Medical Condition
- Background Checks
- Gender Identity
- Georgia
- Ministerial Exception
- FAA
- SSA
- Sex Discrimination
- Education
- Misclassification
- Choice of Law
- Policy
- SOX
- Public Records
- Personnel Record
- Documentation
- Gross
- McDonnell Douglas
- Complaints
- RICO
- Maternity Leave
- Regarded As
- Equal Protection
- ADAAA
- Ledbetter Act
- Recess Appointment
- White House
- California Employment
- Agreements
- Seperation
- DOT
- FMCSA
- Attorney's Fees
- Reporting Time Pay
- Split Shift Pay
- DOL
- Punitive Damages
- Injuries
- Restrictions
- Stock
- Trial
- Verdict
- Back Pay
- Polygraph
- Damages
- LMRA
- VEBA
- Layoff
- Civil Rights
- Defamation
- OSHA
- AMD
- HIV
- HR
- Bankruptcy Code
- Secretary Solis
- Marital Discrimination
- Las Vegas
- Federal Register
- PTSD
- Iraq
- Fourteenth Amendment
- Forum-Selection Clause