Gendered nicknames may be unprofessional, but that doesn’t make them unlawful. A recent federal court decision explains why even repeated comments like “sweetheart” may fall short of what Title VII prohibits. TL;DR: A manager repeatedly called an employee “sweetheart.” She objected, complained, and was later fired. But a court said…
A new Eleventh Circuit decision shows just how limited associational disability discrimination claims can be. TL;DR: A deputy warden sued after being passed over for promotion, alleging her husband’s serious illness led to discrimination. The Eleventh Circuit rejected her ADA claim, emphasizing that associational disability claims require a strong…
He proved age discrimination. The jury agreed. Then they awarded him $3. One dollar for back pay, one for front pay, and one for emotional distress. No, this wasn’t small claims court. But it might as well have been. TL;DR: A Michigan jury found that a former HR Manager was…
It’s one of the few government programs that rewards employers for doing the right thing before getting sued. TL;DR: The U.S. Department of Labor has relaunched the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program. PAID allows employers to voluntarily disclose and correct federal wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act…
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is now law—and it brings big changes for employers: new W‑2 reporting rules, new benefit structures, ACA verification requirements, and more. At Noon ET today, I’ll be moderating a live Zoom panel with three of the sharpest tax and benefits minds I know: Greg…
“Gina works the diner all day, working for her man, she brings home her pay…” But if her employer starts asking about her family medical history, we might have a problem. Not with Bon Jovi—but with GINA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. If you’re not sure what that means,…
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…
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…
President Trump has nominated Scott Mayer and James Murphy to serve on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). If the Senate confirms them, it would give the Board a quorum—enough members to start issuing decisions again—and likely shift the Board’s direction to more pro-employer outcomes. TL;DR: Trump just nominated two…
What happens when an employee posts something offensive online—off the clock, but under their real name—and it causes a workplace backlash? In one recent case, a government communications staffer wrote an inflammatory blog post opposing the Equality Act. The language he used was graphic and anti-LGBTQ+. The employer received complaints,…