Most employers are not trying to police anyone’s hairstyle, but vague grooming or “professional appearance” rules can sometimes cause problems. Pennsylvania’s upcoming CROWN Act aims to prevent that by making it clear that hair texture and protective styles are protected traits under the PHRA. That means it is a…
Some lawsuits keep you guessing. This one did not. When a court reviews missed deadlines, clear directives, and an internal investigation confirming the same issues, the outcome writes itself. And as the Fourth Circuit reminded everyone, reporting discrimination does not make documented performance problems disappear. TL;DR: An employee responsible…
Two employees break the same rule. One gets fired. The other gets another chance. That’s not just a management headache; it’s a discrimination lawsuit waiting to happen. TL;DR: A Michigan federal judge refused to dismiss a former security guard’s race discrimination claims after he was fired for sleeping on…
A recent federal case shows how a workplace investigation can flip fast—from harassment complaint to defamation claim. The employer followed the playbook and won. The accuser did not. TL;DR: A federal court in Ohio threw out a former Chief Legal Officer’s race discrimination, retaliation, and contract claims after he was…
A performer claimed a venue “canceled” them after backlash to a social-media post supporting Israel.They said it was discrimination. The court said it was politics. TL;DR: A federal court dismissed a discrimination case under Section 1981, a law that prohibits race discrimination in contracts. The performer claimed a Northern California…
What if a Black employee uses the N-word in the workplace, directed at no one in particular, and gets fired? Can that employee claim race discrimination under Title VII? A federal judge in Pennsylvania just called that argument “an absurdity.” TL;DR: A Black employee fired for using the N-word claimed…
When the agency that enforces the nation’s anti-discrimination laws ends up defending one of its own under Title VII, that is not just newsworthy. It is a lesson for every employer about how bias, inconsistency, and poor process can sneak into even the most compliance-minded workplaces. TL;DR: A federal judge…
A recent Fourth Circuit decision shows how strong documentation can make or break a retaliation case. TL;DR: An employee claimed that her employer retaliated after she raised race concerns. The Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the employer because contemporaneous records showed performance issues and leadership misalignment that began well before…
When a White Jewish university employee claimed discipline for racially charged remarks amounted to discrimination, the court disagreed. It called the case something else entirely, and in doing so, it drew an important boundary for every employer. TL;DR: A federal court just clarified a point that often gets blurred when discipline…
What happens when mandatory workplace trainings designed to address bias and promote equity go too far? According to the Second Circuit, employers may find themselves defending against hostile work environment claims. TL;DR: The Second Circuit revived a former school administrator’s hostile work environment claim under § 1983. She alleged that…