When an employee on FMLA leave also happens to be a problem employee, HR can feel trapped. A recent federal appellate decision is a reminder that the FMLA is not a shield against legitimate discipline. If the company can show it would have taken the same action regardless of leave, it is on solid legal ground. Continue reading
Sometimes promotions move quietly through the ranks.
No job posting, no formal applications, just a quiet internal decision.
A recent Ninth Circuit decision reminds employers that even those informal moves can create risk under the age-discrimination laws. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
If you read my earlier post, you already know New Jersey’s new pay transparency law is here. Now the Department of Labor has proposed regulations that explain exactly how to comply. Continue reading
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.” Continue reading
Second chances just became a little stronger in Philadelphia. On October 8, 2025, the Mayor signed new amendments to the city’s Fair Chance Hiring law, Philadelphia’s version of “Ban the Box,” that tighten requirements for employers and expand rights for applicants with criminal records. Continue reading
If you’ve ever wondered why the same few employees keep you up at night, Todd Stanton has the answer — and it might just change the way you manage your workplace. Continue reading
A recent Eleventh Circuit decision is a good reminder that repeated remarks from leadership about wanting “younger” workers can become powerful evidence of discrimination. Even when an employer points to other reasons for its decisions, a jury may not buy them if the paper trail does not line up. Continue reading
Anxiety, grievances, and open-ended leave requests can leave HR stuck between compassion and compliance. A federal appellate court just clarified what the ADA does, and does not, require. Continue reading
Think you can brush off a job candidate the moment they mention a religious accommodation? The EEOC just reminded employers again that this is a fast track to litigation, a costly payout, and years of government oversight. And this case is part of a much bigger story: the agency’s current enforcement push on religious liberty. Continue reading
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