The all-male Iowa Supreme Court surprised the nation late last week when it ruled unanimously that a woman could be fired, even though she had done nothing wrong, because her boss was too attracted to her. The case involved a 32-year-old woman who had worked as an assistant in a dental office for about 10 …
Court: Firing ‘irresistible’ worker is not wrongful termination Read More »
Dillard’s, Inc., the department store chain that operates nearly 300 stores in 29 states, has just settled a class action lawsuit accusing it of forcing workers to reveal their private medical information if they needed to take sick time. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the class action four years ago claiming that the …
Major retailer settles ADA class action over private medical info Read More »
A St. Louis taxi driver and shuttle service manager has filed suit against the City of St. Louis, the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission and an airport security contractor for what seems to be a pattern of deliberate religious discrimination. Although this is not technically employment discrimination, many of the same issues apply. The cab driver is …
Driver claims religious discrimination by taxicab commission Read More »
Last week, the President signed a new version of the federal Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act into law. The 2012 version of the WPEA provides employees of federal agencies with additional protection from whistleblower retaliation when they expose corruption, fraud, misconduct, or abuse at their agencies. While federal employees have clearly had legal protection for blowing …
Federal Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act signed into law Read More »
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced a race discrimination settlement with Alliant Techsystems, Inc., a multibillion-dollar defense and aerospace company founded in Minneapolis. The company, which is commonly known as ATK, has agreed to pay $100,000 to a woman the EEOC believes was not hired because of her race. According to the federal agency, the …
Eden Prairie defense firm to pay $100,000 for race discrimination Read More »
The U.S. Supreme Court will be considering that question on Monday. In this case, the context of the question is race discrimination. The question comes before the high court because previous rulings have made clear that, in cases where a supervisor engages in harassment, the company is liable. To be clear, it is still possible …
If someone directs your daily work, are they a supervisor? Read More »
You know those little tip jars often found on the counter at coffee shops like Starbucks? You’ve probably assumed that any tips are divided among the workers at the end of the shift. Apparently, that isn’t quite true. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled this week that Starbucks’ tip sharing policy …
1st Circuit: Starbucks supervisors can’t skim baristas’ tips Read More »
Federal law demands that employers treat their employees equally, regardless of age, race, nationality or religion. Punishment or termination cannot be handed down based solely on these characteristics. Yet one flight attendant claims that this is exactly what happened to her when she was fired from her position on NBA star Magic Johnson’s private jet. …
Flight attendant fired by Magic Johnson files lawsuit Read More »
Working mothers in Minnesota have many demands placed on their daily schedules. Meeting work deadlines, being at the school play and home in time for homework and cooking dinner, all play a role. And while it may seem like a lot, the majority of mothers are completely capable of juggling this balancing act, without compromising …
Actress Jennifer Esposito, a series regular on the CBS hit show “Blue Bloods,” suffers from celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that prevents the absorption of certain nutrients. It can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to fatigue, weakness, and malnutrition. Her doctor has recommended she work a reduced schedule, but CBS allegedly refused to allow that. …
Even celebrities can face disability discrimination on the job Read More »