A recent federal court decision out of Michigan is a timely reminder that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals—while lawful and laudable—can still generate legal risk if they appear to incentivize decisions based on race or gender. The court refused to dismiss a former employee’s reverse discrimination claims, finding that…
If The Dude from The Big Lebowski applied for a job today—with a medical marijuana card in hand and nothing but good vibes—what legal rights would he actually have? A recent federal court decision from Pennsylvania offers a reality check for employers navigating job offers, drug tests, and lawful cannabis…
A recent Second Circuit decision underscores a critical point under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that employers often overlook: an employee who can perform the essential functions of their job without an accommodation may still have a viable failure-to-accommodate claim. The case involved a teacher with PTSD who sued…
I’ve got another confession to make. One of my not-so-guilty pleasures is when employees seeking “religious” accommodations at work get undone by their own hypocrisy. For example, last night, I read a federal court decision about a Senior Manager in the R&D department of a major food company who refused…
Employers striving to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have faced stiff headwinds recently from the federal government. The EEOC’s latest release, “What You Should Know About DEI-Related Discrimination at Work,” is more about what employers can’t do than what they can to promote DEI. Underscoring the importance of caution, the…
And Kendrick Lamar and Drake may co-host a TED Talk on conflict resolution, the Dallas Cowboys may win the Super Bowl next year, and a job applicant may answer the “What’s your biggest weakness?” question honestly. Let’s talk about why training on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is unlikely to…
For several weeks, employment law and HR professionals have been hearing about the term “illegal DEI.” But what did “illegal DEI” actually mean—especially to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal discrimination watchdog? Until recently, that was anyone’s guess. That changed yesterday when the EEOC issued guidance clarifying…
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have become a fixture in many modern workplaces, designed to promote a more inclusive environment. But recent federal scrutiny has raised new concerns for employers. A recent Executive Order directed the Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to review large law…
Despite two deciding judges expressing support for DEI, the Fourth Circuit unanimously ruled on Friday that two Executive Orders issued by President Trump, which seek to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from federal grant and contract processes, will remain in effect while legal challenges proceed. The Executive Orders claim…
A recent Sixth Circuit decision underscores the importance of following the right process when requesting workplace accommodations. The court ruled in favor of the employer, finding that since the employee did not follow the company’s accommodations protocol, it had no legal obligation to provide one. What the Law Says Under…