When a trucking company told a deaf applicant, “No, I’m sorry, we can’t hire you because of your deafness,” it wasn’t just a bad look—it was a multimillion-dollar ADA violation. The jury awarded $36 million (later capped), and the appeals court backed it up. TL;DR: A trucking company refused…
Articles Posted in Discrimination and Unlawful Harassment
Requesting an Accommodation Shouldn’t Be a Black Box
An employee requested a medical exemption from a workplace policy but refused to provide adequate documentation or let her provider clarify her condition. A federal appeals court found that was enough to end the interactive process—and the employer’s obligation. TL;DR: A recent Fourth Circuit decision confirms that the ADA’s…
Drawing the Line on Religious Social Media Posts: EEOC Lawsuit Sends a Warning to Employers
The EEOC has sued a Wisconsin employer for allegedly firing a worker over Bible verses he posted on his personal social media. The case puts a spotlight on a tricky question for employers: When does off-duty religious expression become a workplace problem? TL;DR: According to the EEOC, a business violated…
A Meme, a Minister, and a Judge Who Was Not Amused
Some lawsuits simmer before they boil. This one arrived preheated—with a racist meme, a televangelist plaintiff, and a CEO who mocked him as “Tattoo,” texted a blackface-style image, and said, “Well if I’m your pimp where’s my money? Bring me my money!” When the plaintiff objected, the…
The Dog Ate Our Documentation. The Court Ate Our Defense.
They said he wasn’t “living the…culture.” But when there was no documentation, deleted emails, and a termination memo created after the employee raised age discrimination concerns, the court didn’t buy it—and told a jury to take it from here. TL;DR: A federal appeals court just revived an age…
SCOTUS to Retirees: You Can’t Spell ADA Without a J-O-B
The ADA bars discrimination against employees with disabilities. But what if the discrimination doesn’t happen until after the employee retires? According to the Supreme Court, the ADA doesn’t follow you into retirement. TL;DR: A firefighter who retired early due to disability sued under the ADA after her post-retirement health coverage…
Six Months to Say Yes? Delaying an ADA Accommodation May Be Just as Bad as Denying It.
An Army veteran asked to bring her service dog to work. Her employer took six months to approve it—and that delay may have violated the ADA. TL;DR: A school district took six months to approve a veteran employee’s request to bring her service dog to work. That was too long, according…
Disclosed Menstrual Pain. Denied the Job. Now They’re Paying $48K to the EEOC.
A job candidate allegedly asked to reschedule an interview due to severe menstrual symptoms. She didn’t get the job. But she did get the EEOC’s attention—and a settlement. TL;DR: The EEOC alleged that a national fitness company violated the ADA and Title VII when it rejected a female applicant after…
🎧 I Went on a Podcast to Talk About the Supreme Court’s Ames Decision. Here’s Why Employers Should Listen.
You already know the plaintiff won. What you might not know is what that means for your workplace policies, documentation practices, and DEI strategy. I broke it all down on this week’s On Record PR podcast. TL;DR: I joined Gina Rubel to talk about the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in…
Bias by Vibe: Why Stereotyping the Employer Backfires—Even in California
You’ve trained your managers to avoid bias. But what happens when an employee tries to win a lawsuit by flipping that logic—stereotyping the employer instead? One California court just had a firm answer: Nope. TL;DR: A university employee sued for discrimination after not receiving a permanent promotion. The court…