We’ve long known that drug addiction is an impairment covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). That means that employers, law enforcement, jails, healthcare providers and others are prohibited from discriminating against people who suffer from substance...
Employment Law
Minor league baseball players don’t earn minimum wage. Should that change?
Minor league baseball players are specifically exempt from federal minimum wage and overtime requirements – but that doesn’t mean they’re exempt from California’s wage and hour law system. Indeed, a federal magistrate judge in Northern California recently ruled that...
Will Apple agree to an independent audit of its work practices?
Apple Inc. has long aspired to be a champion for civil rights, but critics say the technology giant fails to maintain an adequately diverse workforce, particularly in higher paid, higher-power positions. Some critics point to repeated reports of discriminatory...
Can one incident constitute illegal sexual harassment?
In certain circumstances, yes. This is because there are two types of sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Both types of sexual harassment involve unwelcome sexual conduct that is made a term or condition of employment. Both types are forms of...
Sexual harassment culture investigation moves forward at Microsoft
In response to investor pressure, Microsoft has agreed to open an investigation into how the company handles sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaints. In a rare move, an activist investor was able to convince almost 78% of Microsoft shareholders to vote...
California sues Tesla over alleged racial discrimination, segregation
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has filed suit against Tesla Inc., alleging that the company’s Fremont plant is a “racially segregated workplace.” It also contends that African American workers suffer from daily racial slurs,...
The USPS is stealing postal carriers’ pay – and they’re not alone
According to investigative reporting by the Center for Public Integrity (CPI), the Associated Press and Univision, United States Postal Service (USPS) supervisors routinely change postal workers’ timecards in order to short them on pay. When they do this, they rarely...
Can religious schools fire principals based on their race?
Religious organizations, including religious schools, generally have the right to choose whomever they like to fill “ministerial” positions. When it comes to people who are acting as religious ministers, the courts are generally required to stay out of any disputes....
Software vendor Tyler Technologies settles overtime class action
An up-and-coming software vendor has agreed to pay $3.15 million to settle a federal class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought by a man who started working for Tyler Technologies in July 2016 as an “implementation consultant.” He claims he was misclassified as...
What happens to my workplace rights if I get pregnant?
When you get pregnant, it changes everything. It can be physically challenging. It can mean a lot of doctor’s appointments. It’s the beginning of an expensive time in your life. You’re full of emotions, hopes and dreams. The last thing you need is to lose your job....