New York City Bill Would Abolish At-Will Employment

?Legislation proposed in New York City would prohibit employers from terminating employees without just cause. It would also ban the use of electronic monitoring in discharging or disciplining employees. We have rounded... Read more »

Justices Appear Split on Case Involving LGBTQ Rights and Religious Freedoms

?The U.S. Supreme Court seemed divided during oral arguments Dec. 5 in a case that centered on anti-discrimination policies when they conflict with religious freedoms in public accommodations. It’s unclear when the... Read more »

Federal Law Prohibiting Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Claims Not Retroactive

?A new federal law invalidating pre-dispute arbitration agreements for sexual harassment and sexual assault claims does not apply retroactively, a New Jersey appeals court recently confirmed. In Zuluaga v. Altice USA, the... Read more »

Transgender Surgery Ban in North Carolina Struck Down

?A ban by the North Carolina State Health Plan (NCSHP) for Teachers and State Employees on paying for transgender surgery resulted in unlawful sex discrimination, the U.S. District Court for the Middle... Read more »

Recognize These Common Myths About Job Coaches

?Job coaches help train employees with many different types of disabilities, including individuals with autism and persons with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Employers should be aware of and not be influenced by myths... Read more »

Two New Maryland Laws Could Make it Harder to Defend Harassment Claims

?Two recent developments out of Annapolis pose new challenges for Maryland employers confronted with claims of harassment. Effective Oct. 1, Maryland’s employee-friendly Senate Bill 450 and Senate Bill 451 lowered the applicable... Read more »

Server Who Said She Was Harassed for Taking Lactation Breaks Loses Claim

?Takeaway: To prove hostile environment sexual harassment, an employee must show more than that her co-workers were unkind to her. The objectionable conduct must be frequent and severe and it must interfere... Read more »

Key Points Employers Need to Know About the Los Angeles Fair Work Week Ordinance

?Los Angeles is set to strengthen protections for retail workers in a sweeping law known as the Fair Work Week Ordinance, which the city council approved on Nov. 29. The ordinance, which... Read more »

Respect for Marriage Act Would Protect Same-Sex Couples’ Company Benefits

?Editor’s Note: The U.S. Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act on Nov. 29. Same-sex couples can continue enjoying company benefits just as opposite-sex couples do now that the Respect for Marriage... Read more »

Proper Workplace Investigations Can Help in Litigation

?Workplace investigations following allegations of misconduct can easily go off the rails if employers don’t know how to do them well. Experts discussed best practices for workplace investigations at the recent American... Read more »