Expert Analysis

• DOJ Memo Shifts Interpretation Of Discrimination Laws

  

  While the recent memorandum targeting federal funding recipients' unlawful discrimination reiterates some long-standing interpretations of antidiscrimination law, it takes stronger positions on facially neutral practices and race-conscious recruiting that federal courts and prior administrations have not treated as unlawful, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

• Handbook Hot Topics: State Laws Shape Drug-Testing Policies

  

  With the growing popularity of state laws regulating drug testing, employers must consider the benefits and costs associated with maintaining such policies, particularly where they are subject to conflicting state laws, say attorneys at Kutak Rock.

• Employer Tips As Memo Broadens Religious Accommodations

  

  A recent Trump administration memorandum seeking to expand religion-related remote work accommodations for federal workers continues the trend of prioritizing religious rights in the workplace, which should alert all employers as related litigation shows no signs of slowing down, say attorneys at Seyfarth Shaw.

• 5th Circ. Ruling Signals Strife For Employers Navigating ADA

  

  While the Fifth Circuit’s recent decision in Strife v. Aldine Independent School District demonstrates that speed is not a perfect shield against workers' Americans with Disabilities Act claims, it does highlight how courts may hold employers liable for delays in the interactive accommodation process, say attorneys at Krevolin & Horst.

• 4th Circ. Clarifies Employer Duties For ADA Accommodations

  

  The Fourth Circuit's recent decision in Tarquinio v. Johns Hopkins indicates that an employer's obligation to provide accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act may never arise if an employee obstructs the process, underscoring that ADA protections depend on cooperation between both parties, say attorneys at Hunton.

• Mitigating Employer Liability Risk Under Sex Assault Rule

  

  The American Law Institute's newly approved rule expands vicarious liability to employers for certain sexual assaults that employees commit, which could materially increase employers' exposure unless they strengthen safeguards around high-risk roles, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

• 3rd Circ. FMLA Suit Revival Offers Notice Rule Lessons

  

  In Walker v. SEPTA, the Third Circuit reinstated a former Philadelphia bus driver's Family and Medical Leave Act lawsuit, finding the notice standard is not particularly onerous, which underscores employers' responsibilities to recognize and document leave requests, and to avoid penalizing workers for protected absences, say Fiona Ong and Leah Shepherd at Ogletree.

• 8th Circ. Rulings Show Employer ADA Risks In Fitness Tests

  

  Two recent Eighth Circuit decisions reviving lawsuits brought by former Union Pacific employees offer guidance for navigating compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, serving as a cautionary tale for employers that use broad fitness-for-duty screening programs and highlighting the importance of individualized assessments, says Masood Ali at Segal McCambridge.

• It Ends With Us Having No Coverage?

  

  A recent suit filed by Harco National Insurance disclaiming coverage for Wayfarer and Justin Baldoni's defense against Blake Lively's claims in the "It Ends With Us" legal saga demonstrates that policyholders should be particularly cautious when negotiating prior knowledge exclusions in their claims-made policies, says Meagan Cyrus at Shumaker.

• How To Navigate NYC's Stricter New Prenatal Leave Rules

  

  On top of the state's prenatal leave law, New York City employers now face additional rules, including notice and recordkeeping requirements, and necessary separation from sick leave, so employers should review their policies and train staff to ensure compliance with both laws, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

• Justices Could Clarify Post-Badgerow Arbitration Jurisdiction

  

  If the U.S. Supreme Court grants a certiorari petition in Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties, it could provide some welcome clarity on post-arbitration award jurisdiction, an issue lingering since the court's 2022 decision in Badgerow v. Walters, says David Pegno at Dewey Pegno.

• New Federal Worker Religious Protections Test All Employers

  

  A recent Trump administration memorandum expanding federal employees' religious protections raises tough questions for all employers and signals a larger trend toward significantly expanding religious rights in the workplace, say attorneys at Seyfarth.

• Navigating Administrative Exhaustion In EEOC Charges

  Excerpt from Practical Guidance

  

  Before responding to a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charge, employers should understand the process of exhausting administrative remedies and when it applies, and consider several best practices, such as preserving records and crafting effective position statements, says Matthew Gagnon at Ogletree.