Last week, the EEOC continued its efforts to include sexual orientation and gender identity as forms of prohibited sex discrimination under Title VII.  The agency obtained a $140,000 settlement from a technology company that barred a transgender employee from the workplace after she announced her intention to transition from male to female.  The EEOC also issued a new fact sheet on bathroom access for transgender employees.  The fact sheet followed North Carolina’s enactment of legislation that requires individuals to use bathrooms that match the gender stated on their birth certificate.  Just today, North Carolina filed a lawsuit against the federal government over its “bathroom bill.”

Discrimination

• The EEOC obtained a nearly $7.7 million judgment against an agricultural employer for discrimination and harassment of foreign workers.
• The Guardian covered a new study that found that sexual harassment training may have a negative effect. 
• After being told “pregnancy is not part of the uniform,” a woman was terminated.  She filed a new lawsuit.

Technology

• William Tincup provided a list of new HR technology to keep an eye on. 
• Mashable explained that it may be a good thing that computers are taking over jobs.
• An employee was terminated from a payroll processing provider after falling victim to a phishing scheme that sought the W-2s of employees. 
• More than a dozen of ADP’s corporate customers suffered a data breach that involved their employees’ information.
• Forbes discussed Elevated Careers’ aim to use algorithms to determine culture fit during the recruitment process.
• SHRM explained that robots will mean more than just job loss.
• Human Resources Executive Online offered tips on selecting an HR software partner.
• Meghan M. Biro discussed how big data is driving HR in 2016.
• HR Zone pondered whether employee assessments should be available on mobile devices.
• Interviewing.io is hoping to eliminate unconscious bias in recruiting through its interviewing platform.
• Some recruiters have come to love technology and data. 

In other developments:

• Business Insider highlighted a new study from the National Employment Law Project that showed raising minimum wages was quickly followed by job growth.
• Uber got yet another lawsuit over worker classification.
• Robin Shea offered a  quiz to help organizations prepare for the new FLSA regulations.  We will be hosting a webinar on this topic on June 2.