Some accommodation requests are straightforward. Others arrive wrapped in spiritual language but turn out to be personal views, broad objections, or political frustrations. A recent federal decision breaks down the elements courts look for in separating religious beliefs from non-religious objections. Continue reading
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 good time for employers to review their policies and make sure they line up with the new standards. 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
When an employee voluntarily resigns to work somewhere else, it may feel like fallout from a workplace conflict. But under Title VII, it isn’t punishment or “discipline.” Continue reading
An airline services company once thought a single scheduled break was enough time for a new mom to pump breast milk. The result? A federal lawsuit that is still headed to trial, and a reminder of what today’s PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act now makes crystal clear. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
It started with a sick day, a spreadsheet literally called “My Passwords.xlsx,” and a colleague trying to help. It ended with a company accusing two former employees of federal computer crimes and trade secret theft.
The Third Circuit’s response? Nice try — but workplace policy violations aren’t hacking. Continue reading
When employees clock in, they expect to do their jobs, not sit through political speeches, anti-union campaigns, or religious lectures from their boss. New Jersey just turned that expectation into a legal right. Continue reading
Before we get to the law, let’s admit it: anytime a case involves a supervisor leaning in to whisper in someone’s ear, you can almost hear George Michael’s sax riff in the background. But as this recent federal court decision shows, not every whisper, awkward or otherwise, creates a viable harassment or retaliation claim. Continue reading
You think you’ve solved the problem. You separate the employee from the alleged harasser. You tell him not to contact her—ever. Years pass without incident. Then one day, the same two people cross paths again, and a decision that stops short of firing her, but directly threatens her pay and job security, is enough to keep a quid pro quo sexual harassment claim alive. Continue reading
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