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Discrimination / Harassment

McDonald’s franchisee to pay almost $2 million to settle sexual harassment lawsuit

01/18/2023
McDonald’s is in the news again for sexual harassment, this time to settle an EEOC suit involving a Kingman, Ariz., franchise owner operating approximately 18 McDonald’s restaurants in Nevada, Arizona and California. The company will pay $1,997,500.

Court dismisses EPA case as push for pay equity intensifies

01/18/2023
To win an EPA case, the worker must show that the opposite sex was paid more for “equal work requiring substantially similar skill, effort and responsibilities performed under similar working conditions.” That’s increasingly difficult in a work environment where numerous new jobs rely on extremely specialized skills, making it almost impossible to prove jobs are substantially similar enough to allow a comparison.

Case of the Week: Ten-hut! Follow Marine Corps’ new religious grooming rules

01/13/2023
Marines Corps basic training strives to tamp down individuality and nonconformity in favor of uniformity in dress and grooming. For decades, male recruits have had to cut their hair, shave their beards and don the Marine uniform. Now a lawsuit by Sikh recruits has forced the Marines to accept that dress and grooming standards can’t be so rigid that they discriminate on the basis of religion.

How to avoid state pay equity law traps

01/10/2023
While activists are pushing Congress to enact revisions to the Equal Pay Act, such as the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would make it easier for women and people of color to reach pay equity, some states and cities have taken the matter into their own hands.

Snapshot: Construction shines when it comes to DEI

01/10/2023
A recently commissioned report from the General Services Administration aimed at advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the architecture and construction fields shows the positive strides made by this sector and areas to improve.

GSA works to highlight and advance DEI efforts in construction industry

01/10/2023
Perhaps companies looking to focus on DEI initiatives should consider a recently commissioned report from the General Services Administration aimed at advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the architecture and construction fields. While DEIA training is becoming a norm in this sector, the report showed that more can be done in areas such as recruiting, empowering and advancing a diverse workforce.

Worker in alleged “slave ship” wants to litigate race bias suit

01/04/2023
A Black assembly line staffer at Tesla, Marcus, seeks to add more than 100 other workers to an existing lawsuit, calling the electric-car maker’s production floor in Fremont, Calif., a “hotbed for racist behavior.”

Manage workplace politics in or out of election season

12/21/2022
Politics are always with us nowadays. When tensions are high, it is essential to keep a respectful workplace, whether or not it’s voting season.

Respect for Marriage Act passes; employers, take note

12/21/2022
The Respect for Marriage Act passed into law with bipartisan support in December and protects marriage for LGBTQ+ and interracial couples. The act ensures that a marriage that is legal in one state is recognized by all. Take this opportunity to review your benefits offerings to ensure they align with federal, state and local laws.

Montana judge strikes down vaccine discrimination

12/21/2022
Montana’s state law prohibited employers from inquiring about vaccination status, including whether a worker or applicant was vaccinated against COVID-19, mumps, measles or other diseases.