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Target has agreed to pay $2.8 million to resolve U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission allegations that it violated several nondiscrimination laws. The agreement was reached through the EEOC’s conciliation process. During an investigation, the EEOC found reasonable cause to believe that the retailer was using employment assessments that disproportionately screened out applicants for exempt professional […]
By Robert Teachout Changes in job duties and increased responsibilities that an employee claimed made his job “untenable” were not sufficient to be an adverse action under the ADA or the ADEA, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled. The court held that the increased duties did not constitute a material change in […]
As of June 27, more employers will be covered by the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). The ordinance adds to the protected classes covered under federal and state civil rights laws. HERO took effect on June 27, 2014, covering employers with 50 or more employees. On June 27, 2015, the law will cover employers with […]
by Laurie Jirak Distribution of medical marijuana in Minnesota is set to begin July 1, so employers need to understand their rights and responsibilities under the state’s new medical marijuana law. Confusion may arise because employers are subject to both federal and state laws that may impose different standards or requirements on workplace medical marijuana […]
by Emily L. Bristol A new rule that adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of prohibited bases of discrimination under Executive Order 11246 goes into effect on April 8. The rule, from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), will apply to federal contractors that hold […]
The U.S. Supreme Court on March 25 vacated and remanded an appeals court ruling that the Pregnancy Discrimination Act does not require employers to accommodate pregnant employees. In Young v. UPS, the 4th Circuit held that UPS did not violate the PDA by limiting light-duty accommodations to employees: (1) injured on the job; (2) disabled as […]
A manager’s comment has allowed an employee to keep her disability discrimination claim alive, according to a recent court ruling. In Manon v. 878 Education, LLC (No. 12-cv-3476 (March 4, 2015)), a worker alleged that she was fired because her daughter has a disability; her claims survived summary judgment because she was able to show that her […]
by Ryan B. Frazier On March 12, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed into law newly enacted legislation aimed at preventing employment and housing discrimination against gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals. The monumental legislation amends the state’s antidiscrimination law to prohibit employers statewide from making employment decisions based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. […]
by Alka Ramchandani A new California law taking effect January 1 clarifies a previous law prohibiting immigrant-related discrimination. Last year, a law creating California Labor Code Section 1019 was enacted. That law makes it unlawful for an employer or any other person to engage in—or direct another person to engage in—any “unfair immigration-related practice” against […]
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has settled four cases and filed yet another pregnancy discrimination case. A sheet metal contractor will pay $215,000 to settle a gender discrimination suit, an environmental remediation services contractor settled a class race and gender discrimination suit for $415,000 and a grocery wholesaler and manufacturer agreed to pay $735,000 […]