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Discrimination / Harassment

EEOC stops handling disparate-impact cases

10/06/2025
Effective Sept. 30, the EEOC has closed its processing of cases where the basis for the complaint is an allegation that an employer’s practices or policies have a disparate impact on members of a protected class.

Are you liable for third-party harassment? Maybe, maybe not

10/06/2025
For decades, the EEOC has taken the position that employers can be liable for sexual harassment by third parties like customers and clients if they knew or should have known that the harassment was taking place but didn’t take steps to stop it. Now, a recent federal appeals court has ruled that the EEOC’s position isn’t valid.

$43 million pay-equity settlement against Disney shows need to audit

09/29/2025
A judge has approved a settlement in a long-running case against the Disney Corporation. The case shows how crucial it is to fix pay-equity problems before unequal pay spurs a class-action lawsuit.

$80K payday for requesting Sundays off during interview

09/29/2025
An applicant filed an EEOC complaint, alleging failure to accommodate his religious needs and failure to engage in the interactive process designed to determine whether a religious accommodation was possible.

Older employees, rising complaints: What HR needs to know about age bias

09/29/2025
A Resume Now survey of nearly 900 employees found that older workers frequently feel disrespected, underpaid compared to younger colleagues, passed over for promotions and pressured into retirement or layoffs. These experiences increase legal risk for employers while weakening workplace morale and productivity.

Congressional Democrats demand info on women leaving workforce

09/29/2025
According to DOL statistics, more than 330,000 women aged 20 or older seem to have disappeared from the labor market since January 2025.

Religious-discrimination cases on the rise

09/22/2025
The EEOC says religious-discrimination cases are a high priority, filing lawsuits on behalf of employees denied accommodations at an increasing clip. To add to the deluge, individual employees are also filing lawsuits, as are organizations organized to defend religious rights in the workplace.

HR professionals share settlement for doing their jobs

09/15/2025
As an HR professional, you know employers can’t ask job candidates questions that reflect sex-based bias or block them from jobs because of their sex. And you know it’s your responsibility to tell hiring managers and supervisors exactly that. But what happens if your organization ignores your expert advice?

Lawsuit proves pregnancy accommodation isn’t optional

09/08/2025
Despite the existence of two laws prohibiting discrimination against pregnant women—the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978, then the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in 2023—employers continue to ignore these laws. Now, the EEOC has taken notice and litigation is ramping up, as one court case proves.

Employer challenges EEOC authority to file systemic-discrimination cases

09/08/2025
Ordinarily, the EEOC is authorized to sue employers whom it has determined may be engaging in systemic discrimination. One employer has challenged the EEOC’s right to bring systemic-discrimination cases.