A large convenience store chain recently learned about the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s intention to challenge how employers use arrest and conviction records to make hiring decisions....more
Sometimes music at work can be a welcome diversion. But not all songs favored by employees come from “The Sound of Music.” An employer’s obligation to keep its workplace free from harassment includes paying attention to what...more
Employers understand the importance of investigating employees’ harassment complaints. A recent case explains what standards apply to the company’s investigation and what happens if the employer cannot determine who was the...more
Recent days have brought encouraging news about the development of COVID-19 vaccines. The prospect of vaccines being available in early 2021 has caused employers to begin considering whether they will require employees to...more
11/20/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Religious Discrimination ,
Title VII ,
Undue Hardship ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Courts around the country are split on the question of whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects individuals against discrimination based on sexual orientation. A recent Arizona federal court recognized the ability...more
8/6/2019
/ Civil Rights Act ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Gender Identity ,
Hostile Environment ,
LGBTQ ,
Sexual Orientation Discrimination ,
Title VII ,
Transgender
Employee accusations of retaliation are some of the most dangerous claims to be levelled against employers. A recent appeals court decision that applies to Oklahoma employers holds that retaliation claimants must satisfy a...more
In November we alerted employers that an Oklahoma City federal court jury awarded Rachel Tudor, a transgender employee, $1.165 million in her discrimination, retaliation and hostile work environment lawsuit against...more
3/26/2018
/ Civil Rights Act ,
Hiring & Firing ,
LGBTQ ,
Motion for Reconsideration ,
Professors ,
Reinstatement ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Sexual Orientation Discrimination ,
State Universities ,
Tenure ,
Title VII ,
Transgender
Courts have disagreed on whether an employer discriminating against an employee based upon their sexual orientation violates federal anti-discrimination laws. Yesterday’s ruling by a New York federal appeals court means this...more
For many years, law enforcement was a male-dominated profession. Recently, police and sheriff departments have made strides to increase the number of female officers. All employers must ensure they are treating male and...more
Last summer the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its “Best Practices: A Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers.” In a nutshell, the OSHA publication stated that transgender employees...more
Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed two lawsuits charging employers with discriminating against employees based upon their sexual orientation. In a Pennsylvania federal court, the EEOC claimed Scott...more
Employers often ask how long they should keep the applications of unsuccessful applicants. Based on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s recent enforcement actions, it’s important to know the right answer to that...more
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and against Abercrombie & Fitch Stores Inc. in a religious discrimination lawsuit involving a Muslim job applicant at its Tulsa,...more
On April 25, 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of...more
By now, most employers have faced situations in which they have discovered an employee has used a false Social Security number. Such discovery usually results in an employee discharge or resignation. A lawsuit filed on...more
In a January 23, 2013 decision, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma continued a recent trend in Oklahoma cases enforcing arbitration clauses included in employment agreements or relationships....more
2/11/2013
/ American Arbitration Association ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
Discrimination ,
Employment Contract ,
Gender Discrimination ,
Hostile Environment ,
Mandatory Arbitration Clauses ,
Race Discrimination ,
Retaliation ,
Title VII ,
Volkswagen