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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will see significant changes under the new Biden administration. The nature and degree of the changes, however, will depend heavily on how President Joe Biden fills senior roles not only at the agency but also in the White House’s domestic policy counsel. Nonetheless, many changes will take time because […]
Nondisclosure agreements (NDAs)–once routine and little thought about–have come under a bright spotlight in recent months. First, it was the #MeToo movement and protests by sexual harassment victims that NDAs perpetuate harassment by keeping bad, even criminal, behavior secret. Then more questions came to light with the release of Omarosa Manigault Newman’s tell-all book about […]
by Mark I. Schickman Fox News understands the life of a news story. It knew that former anchor Gretchen Carlson’s claims of sexual harassment against its former CEO and chairman Roger Ailes would draw headlines for months, as would the ultimate resolution of the claims. In news parlance, Carlson’s claims had “legs.” So, too, would […]
Drivers for ride-hailing giant Uber will continue to be independent contractors under the terms of a settlement of class-action lawsuits in California and Massachusetts if the settlement receives court approval. The settlement, announced on April 21, will require the company to pay drivers an initial $84 million and possibly as much as $100 million. Despite […]
Lyft, a ride-hailing service that uses independent contractors as drivers, has agreed to settle a proposed class action lawsuit in California by paying $12.25 million and giving drivers certain protections, but the settlement doesn’t call on the company to reclassify its drivers as employees. The larger ride-hailing service Uber also is facing court action. The […]
By Christina Hall It is usually good news for employers and employees if they are able to resolve an employment dispute and reach a settlement before engaging in protracted litigation. However, finalizing the details of a settlement can be a tedious process. When the parties rush through the process or fail to properly consider the […]
By Karen Sargeant You’ve terminated an employee’s employment without cause and offered a reasonable package. You’ve negotiated a settlement, prepared the settlement documentation, and paid out the severance. You thought you dotted all your i’s and crossed all your t’s, but you forgot one crucial part – the former employee never signed the release you […]
By Brian P. Smeenk It’s common practice across Canada, when settling a discrimination or wrongful termination claim, to agree that the deal will remain confidential. What can an employer do if employees fail to honor that agreement? What if they blab about the settlement to their coworkers?