Tag: retaliation

discrimination

7th Circuit Rejects Associational Discrimination Claim

One of the unusual features of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is that it includes a provision prohibiting discrimination “because of the known disability of an individual with whom [the employee] is known to have a relationship or association.” A recent decision by the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Illinois, Indiana, and […]

retaliation

The Women of Amazon Studios’ The Boys Offer Lessons on Title VII Retaliation

Piggybacking off my colleague Tim Reed’s recent post providing the background/plot and discussing employer liability issues in Amazon Studios’ The Boys, I am happy to continue expounding upon the various employment law issues that arose in season one. The series presents an interesting and unique perspective on the emotional, legal, and monetary effects of the […]

How Should You Address Employees Who ‘Won’t Go Quietly’ When They Quit?

How you leave a job can make a huge impact on how you move forward, but it can also make a huge impact on the company you leave. Recent research conducted by Reflektive, a people management platform, revealed interesting insights concerning the connection between unfair performance reviews and how likely people are to quit. Additionally, […]

Even Among Friends, Office Affair Is OK … Until It Isn’t

This September will mark the 25th anniversary of the premier of Friends. It is hard to believe that it has been 25 years since we all pulled up a couch to relax at Central Perk and watch Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey navigate their 20s in New York City. For this “episode” of […]

roles

Boss, You Can’t Say That—It’s Retaliation

When a federal jury in a retaliation case hands a $1.5 million verdict to a Phoenix police sergeant, the case gets my attention. The April 10, 2019, verdict made headlines in the Arizona Republic, where the lawyer for Sergeant Jeffrey Green extolled the “big and worthwhile victory.”

EEOC

Tennessee Federal Court Finds Title VII Doesn’t Prohibit Sexual Orientation Discrimination

As we’ve discussed in previous articles, federal courts across the country are struggling with whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on someone’s sexual orientation. An East Tennessee federal district court recently concluded that it doesn’t. In the case before the court, a woman claimed she was fired […]

harassment

Office Romances: Fallout from Breakup Can Cause Headaches Down the Road

The federal district court of Minnesota recently heard a case regarding sexual harassment after the breakup of a consensual sexual relationship between an employee and her supervisor. The supervisor allegedly was displeased with the breakup and was unsuccessful in restarting the relationship, and a tense work environment ensued. The court ultimately held that the allegations […]

fired

Firing Employee Who Made Threats: Opposition Isn’t Always Protected

The Iowa Court of Appeals recently found that an employee who made violent threats on Facebook couldn’t sue her former employer for retaliation after she was terminated. The court’s decision is important because it allows employers to make termination decisions when a protected complaint is pending. In other words, not all opposition is protected.