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bias

Watch for Ways to Remove Weight Bias from your Workplace

Weight is not a protected characteristic in most civil rights laws, meaning workplace discrimination based on weight is largely permitted. There is some momentum to include weight as a protected category in civil rights laws, however, given the growing body of research on the impact of weight bias. Employees who have high body weight may […]

How Background Screening Can Help Improve Your Cybersecurity Hiring Process 

There has never been a more important time to hire cybersecurity experts than in the world we live in today, where theft of digital information is the most commonly reported fraud. One alarming trend, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, is the prevalence of employees faking applications and fraudulently accepting remote positions in companies […]

Darth Vader’s Voice Draws Attention to AI’s Impact on Collective Bargaining

Not unexpectedly, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly affecting the collective bargaining relationship between labor and management, and the following case discussion addresses both legal and practical aspects of AI’s impact on bargaining. ‘More Machine Now Than Man’ In May, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) filed an unfair labor practice […]

Battle of the Sexes: Federal and State Orders Don’t Erase Title VII Obligations

Employers may recall that earlier this year, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) limiting the recognition of gender to male and female. Texas Governor Greg Abbott then passed a similar directive shortly after and has also signed a bill into law that could affect how employers should address their employees. However, employers shouldn’t neglect […]

Economic Headwinds: Navigating Layoffs with Care and Compliance

When budgets tighten—whether because of a federal government shutdown, grant cuts, manufacturing slowdowns, or a dip in tourism—some employers face the difficult decision to reduce staff. If layoffs are on the table, approach them with empathy, clarity, and legal diligence. Key considerations Consider these factors in connection with potential layoffs: Confirm layoffs are a last […]

EntertainHR: All Rise, The Honorable Roman Roy Now Presiding 

If you’ve ever watched Succession, you know that the show is a fierce exploration of power, influence, and legacy, with each member of the Roy family vying to be the voice and changemaker of their family-owned company.  At its core, Succession is not just about business; it’s about who gets to speak, who gets to […]

Work Should Be a ‘No Politics’ Zone

Institutions around the country are in turmoil, subject to loud clamoring about events in the Middle East. Many members of their communities are making claims of anti-Semitism, while there are counterclaims of Islamophobia. Public universities and institutions may have no way to avoid those disruptions, but fortunately private employers need not be pulled into that […]

Quiet Quitting: A New Threat to Office Productivity or a Sign of Needed Change?

A new generation of workers is renouncing hustle culture—going above and beyond workplace expectations—and embracing the philosophy of “quiet quitting.” Any sort of alleged “quitting” can easily cause upper management to feel unsettled. But is this trending phenomenon a sign of employee laziness, or is it a call for workplace reform? With more than 15 […]

Offensive Language and Physical Violence in the Workplace: Was Will Smith Justified in Hitting Chris Rock in the Face?

Television audiences for award shows have been in steep decline for years, but the 2022 Academy Awards received far more media attention after the fact than any other in modern history. This attention was all thanks to an off-color joke by Chris Rock, which was immediately followed by Will Smith marching onto the stage and […]

The Shift in Corporate Abortion Policies and Support

It’s hard to find a more controversial and polarizing topic than abortion. It not only is an extremely personal issue but also straddles the intersection of three subjects that are generally best avoided in the office: religion, politics, and sex. Supreme Court Decision Creates Controversy But in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision […]