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As we went to press, the current state legislative session was drawing to a close, and a host of important bills that could significantly impact employers were pending. Here’s a rundown on key employment legislation on the docket in Sacramento and a quick overview of new federal laws under consideration.
The Department of Labor has put into place controversial regulations that would let states use unemployment insurance money to fund family and medical leave. The new rules broaden the scope of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, so that workers could receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave if they take time off […]
A Los Angeles jury recently awarded $1 million to Mustafa Rez, a waste management engineer for the city of Los Angeles who charged that he was discriminated against and harassed based on his national origin and Muslim religion. Rez claimed that after nine years of positive reviews, his problems started when he submitted a proposal […]
In a decision that could test the limits of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal court in Utah has ruled a worker’s sensitivity to strong fragrances may qualify as a disability. Glenda Davis had worked for a state tax agency for four years when she developed a sensitivity to fragrances that resulted in headaches, […]
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires you to try to reach an accommodation in cases involving mental or physical disabilities by engaging in an “interactive process” with an employee. But a recent case involving United Airlines highlights several missteps to avoid—and some specific measures to take—to satisfy the ADA.
The California Supreme Court has recently decreed that religious nonprofits are exempt from California’s employment bias rules. But, as we’ll explain, this doesn’t mean that religious organizations are completely free to discriminate or to violate a host of other employment-related laws.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has unveiled a new initiative to boost enforcement of the wage bias laws. The agency will create a new task force to help EEOC investigators analyze equal pay issues when employees file charges. The government is also providing additional educational resources through a new equal pay page on its […]
The federal government pulled in a record $49.9 million last year for employees who filed complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an increase of $34 million over the last six years, according to recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission statistics. Topping the list were HIV-related claims of $10.5 million, followed by orthopedic and back injuries […]
When a male supervisor harasses a female employee, it’s obvious that you must take the matter seriously or face the likelihood of expensive damages if you’re sued. But many harassment claims don’t follow this typical pattern.In one recent lawsuit, an employee charged he was harassed because of his disability. And in another, a male worker […]
How do you deal with an employee who’s disruptive and can’t get along with co-workers? The obvious answer may be a warning or other discipline. But the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal says employees like these may have a mental disability protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and that instead of disciplining […]