This week, our law firm is at the annual National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) conference in Chicago. The convention kicked off with remarks from very bold and inspiring plaintiffs in landmark cases. One of the plaintiffs we heard from was Gerald Bostock, who was one of the Plaintiffs (and the named
Employment Discrimination
Is Pregnancy Protected Under the Americans with Disabilities Act?
There is a general understanding that the law affords certain protections for pregnant people in the workplace. Most notably, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act was passed in 1978 as an amendment to Title…
Say Yes to the Dress…Code?
Discriminatory work dress codes are a contentious issue in many workplaces. Dress codes may unfairly target certain groups of employees based on their gender, race, religion, disability, or other personal characteristics. These dress codes can take many forms, such as: requiring women to wear high heels, dresses, or makeup; banning…
Holidays and Parties and Drinking, Oh My!
We are in the midst of the holiday season. As the holidays roll by, businesses everywhere are having their year-end holiday parties. Millions of people everywhere are going to restaurants, bars, and banquet halls to mix and mingle, to celebrate victories, and to close out the…
Mass layoffs: What must your employer do?
Summary:
With Layoffs on the rise, it has put a palpable amount of pressure on workers around the country. Turning a season of cheer into one of stress and uncertainty. There are many laws that are in play that govern how an employer must go about …
Fair Trials for Employees with Intellectual Disabilities
We often think of a fair trial in terms of having an impartial judge and jury, effective assistance of counsel, the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses, and the ability to cross-examine the adversary’s witnesses and present rebuttal evidence. However, trials are much more complicated than…
So, your boss wants to pay the sexes differently for the same work
Not cool. On its face that violates the Equal Pay Act. The Equal Pay Act is a federal law that states employees of one sex must be paid the same as employees of the opposite sex for the same job. Here it is in legalese:
No…
Ending the Toxic (Employment) Relationship
It’s great when you love your career, job, boss, and coworkers. But, how do you handle the toxic employment relationship?
Usually, with at-will employment, the exit is as simple as giving notice, shaking hands and saying goodbye. With at-will employment, employees have the right to end…
Never Forget Atlantis Sank and Camelot Failed: An Optimist’s Guide to Now
It’s dark out there right now.
In Texas, it is judicial fact that women and people of color have less rights than they do almost anywhere else in the country. Regarding women, I am obviously talking about the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing the flagrantly unconstitutional 6-week…
A Complicated Relationship: Covid-19 and Disability Discrimination
The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been spreading like wildfire both among the vaccinated and unvaccinated. Contracting the new strain is causing many to have to take time off of work and out of the office (one would hope). Suppose, however, that once you labor…