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Employment Law

New rule bans discrimination against contractors’ LGBT employees

04/13/2015
A White House executive order that went into effect April 8 prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

What doesn’t count as reverse discrimination

04/10/2015
A single racially charged comment from someone who didn’t have any say in a subsequent discharge decision won’t support a reverse discrimination claim.

Anxiety disorder a covered ADA disability

04/08/2015

Since the EEOC declared that “the ability to interact with others” is an essential life function, some employees and their attorneys have argued that a long list of psychiatric and psychological disorders are covered ADA disabilities. If the diagnostic criteria for a condition includes difficulty getting along with others, then being diagnosed with the condition is proof enough of disability, goes the argument. Now a federal appeals court has essentially agreed with that position, at least when it comes to one diagnosis.

Comment period on proposed sex discrimination rule extended

04/07/2015
The U.S. Department of Labor has extended for two weeks the comment period for its proposed rule governing the obligations of federal contractors and subcontractors not to discriminate on the basis of sex in their employment practices.

Think this guy had a sexual harassment case?

04/07/2015
Sure, it’s theoretically possible for a man to suffer sexual harassment. But it would have to be pretty blatant to get very far in court, right?

The wrong manager was told of harassment–are you still considered ‘on notice’?

04/07/2015
As this case shows, it’s important that employees voice their complaints to the correct supervisor cited in a harassment, discrimination and retaliation prevention policy. Otherwise, the employee’s whole case could unravel.

Judge nixes online notice of Gawker suit settlement

04/06/2015
Traditionally, plaintiffs learn by mail about their potential membership in a class-action lawsuit. Reaching mobile millennials may require a different tack.

Supreme Court creates new pregnancy discrimination framework

04/06/2015
The Supreme Court ruled on March 25 that a pregnant UPS employee who was denied a light-duty position is entitled to a new trial. The Court’s framework for pregnancy discrimination cases allows employees who show that an employer policy that creates a “significant burden” for pregnant employees violates the Preg­­nancy Dis­­crimi­­na­­tion Act.

Waste company can’t make workers pay for truck damage

04/06/2015
Three Middletown-based trash hauling businesses have settled with a labor union that says its members were wrongly made to pay for damage to garbage trucks.

Bloomberg News faces reporter’s charges of pregnancy bias

04/06/2015
A former Washington political correspondent for New York-based Bloom­­berg News claims the company fired her because of her pregnancy. She filed the charges with the D.C Superior Court, alleging that management’s attitude changed toward her after she announced it.