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…
The Employer Handbook Blog
Big Win for Employers: DOL Won’t Demand Double Damages in Wage and Hour Investigations
If the Department of Labor comes knocking about unpaid wages, here’s some welcome news: as of June 27, 2025, it can no longer demand liquidated damages—unless it sues you. TL;DR: In Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2025-3, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Wage and Hour Division (WHD)…
It’s Bobby Bonilla Day. Again. And Again. And Again.
Every July 1, we gather to celebrate a modern fable. A baseball player hasn’t swung a bat in over two decades, yet his bank account gets a seven-figure boost—like clockwork. That man is Bobby Bonilla. That day is today. And the story never gets old. The Deal That Keeps…
🚨 The Supreme Court Just Took Aim at Nationwide Injunctions. Could the FTC’s Noncompete Rule Rise from the Dead?
Most people didn’t connect the dots between last week’s Supreme Court decision in Trump v. CASA and the FTC’s ban on noncompetes. But maybe they should. The Court’s ruling didn’t mention employment law. It didn’t say a word about the FTC. But it did take a wrecking ball to the…
The FMLA Trap You May Be Walking Into—Even When Fraud Seems Obvious
“He filled out the doctor’s section himself.” Sounds like fraud, right? Maybe. But if you fire someone on that hunch without following the FMLA’s rules, you could be the one in legal trouble. TL;DR A federal court refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a former employee who claimed he…
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…
What Delaware’s Latest Decision Teaches About Drafting Enforceable Noncompetes and Nonsolicits
Noncompetes are under pressure. Federal regulators have wanted to ban them. States like California, Minnesota, and Oklahoma already have. And even where they remain technically legal, courts are increasingly skeptical—especially when the restrictions go further than necessary. Because a large part of my practice involves reviewing employment and equity agreements…
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…
The Most Expensive Severance Mistake You’ll Read About This Year
What happens when a severance agreement promises $680,000 per month for sixteen months—but the employer insists they meant $680,000 total? You get a contract dispute with eight figures at stake and a costly reminder that a few words can swing a deal from routine to ruinous. TL;DR: The First Circuit…