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A factory worker sued her employer, alleging the company discriminated against her based on her race by allowing a hostile work environment to pervade its manufacturing plant. She also claimed it retaliated against her for accusing a coworker of tampering with her machine. Let’s take a look at how the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of […]
The COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on the challenge of juggling work and personal obligations, including coordinating the demands of virtual learning, school closures, and other scheduling issues. Even as the pandemic evolves to become endemic, it may still have a lingering effect on the lives of workers who need to juggle hybrid school schedules […]
President Joe Biden’s nomination of a diversity and inclusion expert for a seat on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) puts the panel closer to a 3-2 Democratic majority. Kalpana Kotagal’s nomination was announced April 4 for the seat that will come open when Republican Janet Dhillon’s term ends on July 1. Kotagal is a partner […]
When an employer is sued for discrimination and decides to settle the case, the details are confidential. When the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sues an employer, however, the settlement is very public and includes a press release giving details about the resolution. Recently, the EEOC announced a settlement with a Winston-Salem company in a […]
Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was speculation about a baby boom in the coming months because couples were spending virtually all their time at home together, perhaps with too much “downtime.” An immediate boom ended up not occurring, according to a recent study by University of Michigan researchers. But, the slight pause in pregnancy and childbirths […]
There’s no exhaustive list of potentially reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Whether an accommodation is reasonable will depend on the unique circumstances of each instance, including the individual’s limitations and essential job functions. Some accommodations, however, have been declared “unreasonable.” 3 Unreasonable ADA Accommodations 1. It isn’t reasonable to eliminate job’s essential functions. An […]
Football season is upon us, and so are the clichés associated with it. But clichés all contain kernels of truth, do they not? Here is one: “Football is a game of inches.” So, too, is employment discrimination litigation. For an education on this point and the importance of small details, read on. The ‘T’ Got […]
Retaliation claims are the most frequently alleged basis for violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the most common finding of wrongdoing, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Often, the underlying discrimination allegations will be dismissed, but a court will determine retaliation occurred.
The list of employers and government agencies requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is growing, and such requirements are generally legal under federal law. But employers need to be clear about when exceptions must be made and how state laws can add a wrinkle to their vaccination policies.
Updated technical assistance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) clarifies how employers can require or encourage employees to take a COVID-19 vaccine, but attorneys advising employers point out how the document also contains cautions. The EEOC updated its technical assistance on May 28 to address questions about how federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws may be […]