Discrimination
EEOC Announces Enforcement Priorities for 2023-2027
On Tuesday January 10, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) publicly released its Draft Strategic Enforcement Plan (“SEP”) for fiscal years 2023-2027. The SEP describes the EEOC’s top enforcement priorities, making it critical information for employers around the country. The Draft SEP sets out the EEOC’s six subject matter priorities for fiscal years 2023-2027:…
Read MoreWhy Do You Need a Handbook Disclaimer and What Should Be In It Anyway?
If you’re like most employers right now, you’re in the process of reviewing your Employee Handbook to see if it needs to be updated. A recent Alabama state court decision offers valuable lessons to all employers with employee handbooks (not just those in Alabama) on the importance of a properly drafted handbook disclaimer. Now, in…
Read MoreHow to Navigate a Reduction in Force
Over the course of your business life, there may come a time when you are faced with the difficult but necessary decision to lay off some employees as part of a reduction in force or other restructuring initiative at one or more of your locations. There are a wide array of laws that may impact…
Read MoreRetaliation Mistake Leads to a Costly Payout
Race discrimination is bad enough, but an Oklahoma-based company recently learned the hard way that adding a retaliation mistake on top of that can lead to hefty settlements. American Piping Inspection, Inc. has agreed to pay $250,000 to settle a race-based discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the EEOC on behalf of a Black employee…
Read MoreFederal Agencies Partner on New Anti-Discrimination Resources for Veterans
In connection with Veterans’ Day, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Veteran’s Employment and Training Service (VETS), and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division have issued an omnibus resource, “Protections Against Employment Discrimination for Service Members and Veterans,” to help veterans…
Read MorePolice Officer Suspended for Facebook Post Allowed to Sue City
At a time when Towns are increasingly wary of potentially inflammatory political statements by their employees, a Massachusetts court has raised a warning flag for Towns considering discipline as a result of those statements. A Cambridge police officer filed suit against the City, alleging it had violated his constitutional free speech rights by disciplining him…
Read MoreEEOC Updates Mandatory Poster, Adds QR Code for Filing Charges
The revised poster may result in an increase in the number of discrimination charges filed by employees, according to legal experts. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published Wednesday a “Know Your Rights” workplace poster that replaces its previous “EEO is the Law” poster, according to an Oct. 19 statement on the agency’s website. Covered…
Read MoreGood Policies, Good Results – Have You Checked Yours Lately?
A recent opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit provides good reason for employers to make a robust effort at maintaining and disseminating a policy against discrimination and harassment. Most employers probably already have such a policy. But if it is not comprehensive in scope, and if it is buried in…
Read MoreNew Frontier in COVID-19 Vaccine Litigation
Despite President Biden’s recent declaration that the COVID-19 pandemic is over, litigation concerning employer vaccine mandates continues as employers face hurdles to ensure workplace safety and compliance with government mandates. Here we take a closer look at issues companies are facing more than two years into the pandemic, and how you may help your business…
Read MoreSupreme Court Ready to Address Affirmative Action, Religious Freedoms
With the advent of fall comes a new term for the U.S. Supreme Court, which is likely to hear a number of cases of interest to employers across the country. The 2022-23 term officially started Oct. 3rd. Numerous legal experts have predicted that we’ll see the court reject some major precedents this fall. “They are…
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