A Black lecturer in his 70s says a fellow professor in his department regularly made racially charged remarks—not necessarily directed at him, but about Black colleagues more broadly. A federal judge says that could be enough to support a hostile work environment claim under Title VII. Continue reading
This week, lawmakers in both the House and Senate reintroduced the Equality Act, a bill that would explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity across numerous areas of federal law.
Although the bill has strong Democratic support, it lacks bipartisan backing—and given the political composition of Congress and the current administration’s stance, it is unlikely to become law during this session. Still, its reintroduction offers employers a timely opportunity to review existing policies and ensure compliance with current law. Continue reading
The Department of Labor just blinked. Again. In its latest move, the agency announced that it’s stepping back from its own 2024 independent contractor rule and reverting to older, more flexible standards. That’s not just a procedural shift—it’s a clear signal that the DOL may be moving away from stricter employee classification altogether. Continue reading
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
A machine operator with osteoarthritis tried to return to work with restrictions. Instead, he got terminated. Now his ADA case is headed for trial. Continue reading
Diversity goals can strengthen a workplace — or, in some cases, spark a lawsuit. Just ask Clorox, now facing a revived gender discrimination claim despite its well-meaning initiatives. Continue reading
Working with VIPs can feel like walking a legal tightrope. From influencers to high-profile executives, businesses often face big questions: Are they independent contractors or employees? What must go into their agreements? And how do you protect your intellectual property—and avoid legal headaches?
On May 9 at 12 PM ET, I’ll be teaming up with my colleague, Merlyne Jean-Louis, for a free Zoom session you won’t want to miss: 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
Now you can listen to The Employer Handbook—check out this week’s podcast recap! Continue reading
President Trump’s latest executive order could change how the federal government handles workplace discrimination — but not in the way you might think.
Before you assume that disparate impact claims are gone for good, let’s unpack what the order does (and doesn’t) do. Continue reading
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