A pair of lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle just dropped one of the most ambitious paid leave proposals in years. It won’t create a national mandate—but it could reshape the paid leave landscape for employers across the country. Continue reading
When employees allege discrimination under the ADA, it’s their burden to prove bias — not the employer’s burden to defend every business decision. A recent Seventh Circuit case reinforces that when employers apply clear policies consistently, even imperfect decisions won’t amount to discrimination. Continue reading
Employees might think pressing record is harmless—especially when trying to document what’s said in a heated meeting. But one Director of Social Services found out the hard way that secret recordings—even legal ones—can land employees on the unemployment line. Continue reading
Turns out a medical marijuana card can’t cure everything—especially if what you’ve got is a bad case of ADA expectations. Here’s a lesson in what happens when federal law refuses to roll with the times. Continue reading
If your company has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative — or you’re thinking about starting one — you’ve likely been paying attention to the legal noise surrounding these programs lately. Continue reading
A recent decision from the Third Circuit shows how courts are looking closely—not just at what arbitration agreements say, but also at how they’re rolled out. And even if a dispute doesn’t qualify for the new federal carveout for sexual harassment claims, employers still need to be ready to prove their agreements are enforceable. Continue reading
If The Dude from The Big Lebowski applied for a job today—with a medical marijuana card in hand and nothing but good vibes—what legal rights would he actually have? A recent federal court decision from Pennsylvania offers a reality check for employers navigating job offers, drug tests, and lawful cannabis use. Continue reading
For several weeks, employment law and HR professionals have been hearing about the term “illegal DEI.” But what did “illegal DEI” actually mean—especially to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal discrimination watchdog? Until recently, that was anyone’s guess. Continue reading
Think you can sue your employer for not hiring you because you tested positive for cannabis? Think again. The Third Circuit just made it clear that New Jersey’s recreational marijuana law does not provide job applicants with a private cause of action. Continue reading
At Noon ET, Amy Epstein Gluck, Michael Elkins, and I will present “What the Legal Landscape Looks Like for 2025.” Come hang with us for an hour while we cover key legal updates for 2025. Our friends at HR Learns, who are hosting this event, have pre-approved our sesh for HRCI/SHRM credit, although one of you will have to supply the Festivus Pole.
Did I mention it’s free? The other HR Festivus sessions, which kick off at 11:30 a.m., are also free. You can read the full agenda here. Although I’m not holding out for Jake Paul/Mike Tyson money, watching me compete in the feats of strength will cost you. Ah, who am I kidding? HR would spit out their coffee, and Amy would beat me like Paul did Tyson.
You can register here if you’d like to attend any or all of HR Festivus, the HR holiday you didn’t know you needed.
The Employer Handbook Blog