Discrimination

  • January 29, 2026

    3 Things To Watch As EEOC Consolidates Litigation Authority

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's leaders recently expanded their authority to approve or scuttle new lawsuits, a move that will shift enforcement priorities and reflects sentiments that had been brewing at the agency for years, experts say. Here are three things to know about the power shift at the EEOC.

  • January 29, 2026

    6th Circ. Tosses Black Flight Attendant's Race Bias Suit

    The Sixth Circuit declined Thursday to reinstate a Black Delta flight attendant's suit claiming she was disciplined out of racial bias following a verbal altercation with a colleague, ruling the airline acted fairly based on evidence that the flight attendant made an alleged threat during the incident.

  • January 29, 2026

    Ex-Arby's Employee Sues Over Gender Identity Harassment

    Arby's has been sued in Illinois federal court by a nonbinary ex-employee who claims they suffered pervasive discrimination and ridicule from their supervisor over their gender identity, and that reports of the manager's sexual harassment went unaddressed.

  • January 29, 2026

    NJ Justices Say Title IX Preempts Rutgers Union Contract

    A grievance procedure in a local union's collective negotiation agreement with Rutgers University is preempted by Title IX, the New Jersey Supreme Court said Thursday, reversing a lower court's decision that forced the university into post-termination arbitration over a custodian fired for sexual harassment.

  • January 29, 2026

    Nurse Fired In Pandemic-Era RIF Can't Reinstate Age Bias Suit

    The Sixth Circuit backed the dismissal of an age bias suit from a nurse who claimed a medical center used a COVID-19-related reduction in force as an excuse to fire her, ruling a supervisor calling one of her colleagues a "young star" wasn't linked to her termination.

  • January 29, 2026

    Full 1st Circ. To Review Cop's Suspension For Facebook Post

    The full First Circuit has agreed to review a Massachusetts police officer's suspension for making disparaging comments about George Floyd on a personal Facebook page, setting aside an opinion in the police department's favor and teeing up an appeal focused on the speech rights of government employees.

  • January 28, 2026

    1st Circ. Says Ex-Cop Proves No Bias In Retaliation Suit

    The First Circuit backed the dismissal of an ex-Boston cop's retaliation suit claiming the department shared her disciplinary records with prospective employers because of her accusations that police leaders buried her claims of rape by a fellow officer, ruling she hadn't provided any evidence of bias.

  • January 28, 2026

    NM Bill Could Shield Medical Cannabis Users From Job Bias

    Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico's Legislature are looking to redefine employment rules for medical cannabis patients to prohibit bosses from taking adverse actions for lawful off-duty use but allow them to restrict use for certain roles or carry out discipline for impairment at work.

  • January 28, 2026

    Alito Rejects Bid To Pause 3rd Circ.'s Computer Fraud Ruling

    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Wednesday denied a debt collection agency's request to stay a Third Circuit decision that found the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act does not support claims against employees who share work passwords.

  • January 28, 2026

    6th Circ. Seems Unlikely To Ax Prof's Pregnancy Bias Win

    A Sixth Circuit panel appeared unmoved Wednesday by Michigan Technological University's effort to undo a former professor's pregnancy bias win but also skeptical of resurrecting additional bias and pay disparity claims that had been trimmed from the case prior to trial.

  • January 28, 2026

    Criminal History Law Covers Job Seeker's Suit, 3rd Circ. Says

    The Third Circuit reinstated a suit Wednesday from a job applicant who said a trucking company illegally rejected him because of a past armed robbery conviction, ruling that a Pennsylvania law that sets guardrails on the consideration of criminal histories in hiring applies to his case.

  • January 28, 2026

    Wholesale Repeal Of EEOC Guidance Leaves Compliance Void

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's decision to erase, rather than modify, detailed harassment guidance increases uncertainty by creating a compliance gap that the agency's Republican leadership isn't likely to fill, experts say.

  • January 28, 2026

    Seafood Restaurants Settle EEOC Sex Harassment Suit

    A pair of seafood restaurants will pay $34,000 to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sex harassment suit claiming the businesses allowed a male employee to continue working with a female colleague even after he had been arrested for exposing himself to her.

  • January 27, 2026

    Starbucks VP Says She Was Fired For Flagging 'Siren' System

    A former Starbucks vice president who oversaw new equipment testing claims the company terminated her for raising concerns about the debut of the "Siren" drink-making system, including that maggots spawned in the machine without proper cleaning, according to a lawsuit launched Monday in Washington state court.

  • February 12, 2026

    Law360 Seeks Members For Its 2026 Editorial Boards

    Law360 is looking for avid readers of our publications to serve as members of our 2026 editorial advisory boards.

  • January 27, 2026

    Citi Pushes For Arbitration In Ex-Exec's Discrimination Case

    Citigroup moved Tuesday to compel arbitration of a former high-ranking director's sexual harassment and workplace discrimination claims, filing a petition in Texas federal court the day after the former executive sued the bank in New York.

  • January 27, 2026

    Taco Bell Franchisees Ink $100K EEOC Sex Harassment Deal

    Two Taco Bell franchisees agreed to pay $100,000 to end a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit claiming they did not act swiftly enough to remove a supervisor who sexually harassed underage workers, according to a filing Tuesday in Michigan federal court.

  • January 27, 2026

    3rd Circ. Backs Duquesne University's Win In Age Bias Suit

    The Third Circuit on Tuesday upheld Duquesne University's win over a suit by a former gift officer in his 60s who claimed he was discriminated against when his boss shifted work to a younger colleague, saying he failed to point to a comparable co-worker who received more favorable treatment.

  • January 27, 2026

    Ex-GOP Aide's Work Never Changed, Bias Suit Judge Told 

    The Connecticut General Assembly's House Republican Office on Tuesday urged a state court judge to issue quick wins on a former Republican press secretary's discrimination and retaliation claims, saying neither an adverse employment action nor discipline occurred before the aide took an approved medical leave and resigned.

  • January 27, 2026

    Tyson Worker Fights To Keep Bulk Of OT Suit Alive

    Tyson Foods Inc. shouldn't dodge a proposed class action accusing the company of flouting meal and rest break requirements and not paying workers correctly, a worker told a Washington federal court Monday, arguing that she supported her claims well enough at this stage of the litigation.

  • January 27, 2026

    Ex-NJ Judge Wants To Revive Civil Rights Suit Over Arrest

    A former New Jersey state court judge urged a federal court to reconsider the dismissal of her federal civil rights claims against a municipality and its police director, arguing that the court wrongly imposed an excessive evidentiary bar and misread a record of constitutionally deficient internal affairs investigations.

  • January 27, 2026

    Ex-Wells Fargo Director Urges 4th Circ. To Keep $22M Verdict

    A former Wells Fargo director has asked the Fourth Circuit not to scrap his $22.1 million Americans with Disabilities Act verdict, arguing the bank failed to address one of his state law claims on appeal and can't rewrite how the jury weighed conflicting evidence and testimony.

  • January 27, 2026

    Clinic Workers' Vax Bias Suit Needs 2nd Look, 3rd Circ. Says

    A split Third Circuit panel reinstated a religious bias suit claiming Geisinger Medical Center illegally required workers who opposed its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to undergo nasal testing, saying the employees should have been allowed to explore whether a chemical in the nasal swabs made that accommodation unreasonable.

  • January 27, 2026

    Divisions Emerge At 2nd Circ. Over Reproductive Rights Law

    A Second Circuit panel appeared split Tuesday on whether an anti-abortion group challenging a New York state law that bars employers from penalizing workers based on their reproductive health decisions has standing to challenge the law as unconstitutional.

  • January 27, 2026

    House Democrat Accuses EEOC Of Abandoning Mission

    A key House Democrat warned that policy shifts by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are taking the agency in the wrong direction, calling out the rescission of harassment guidance, an about-face on disparate impact enforcement and a call for white men to lodge bias claims.

Expert Analysis

  • How Ending OFCCP Will Affect Affirmative Action Obligations

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    As President Donald Trump's administration plans to eliminate the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which enforces federal contractor antidiscrimination compliance and affirmative action program obligations, contractors should consider the best compliance approaches available to them, especially given the False Claims Act implications, say attorneys at Ogletree.

  • Employer Best Practices For Navigating Worker Separations

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    As job cuts hit several major industries, employers should take steps to minimize their exposure to discrimination claims, information leaks and enforcement challenges, such as maintaining sound documentation, strategic planning and legal coordination, says Mark Romance at Day Pitney.

  • Employer Tips For Responding To ICE In The Workplace

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    Increased immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration has left employers struggling to balance their compliance obligations with their desire to provide a safe workplace, so creating a thorough response plan and training for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's presence at the workplace is crucial, say attorneys at Hanson Bridgett.

  • Handbook Hot Topics: Shifting Worker Accommodation Rules

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    Since President Donald Trump took office, many changes have directly affected how employers must address accommodation requests, particularly those concerning pregnancy-related medical conditions and religious beliefs, underscoring the importance of regularly reviewing and updating accommodation policies and procedures, say attorneys at Kutak Rock.

  • Shifting DEI Expectations Put Banks In Legal Crosshairs

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    The Trump administration's rollbacks on DEI-friendly policies create something of a regulatory catch-22 for banks, wherein strict compliance would contradict established statutory and administrative mandates regarding access to credit for disadvantaged communities, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

  • Compliance Tips After Court Axes EEOC's Trans Rights Take

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    A Texas federal court's recent decision struck portions of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's 2024 guidance pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity under Title VII, barring their use nationwide and leaving employers unsure about how to proceed in their compliance efforts, say attorneys at Dorsey & Whitney.

  • 5 Insurance Claims That Could Emerge After NCAA Settlement

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    Following the recent NCAA class action settlement that will allow revenue sharing with college athletes, there may be potential management liability for universities, their executive leadership and boards that could expose insurers to tax, regulatory, breach of contract and other claims, says Sarah Abrams at Baleen Specialty.

  • 8th Circ. Ruling Highlights Complicated Remote Work Analysis

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    The Eighth Circuit’s recent opinion in Kuklenski v. Medtronic USA demonstrates that the applicability of employment laws to remote workers is often a fact-driven analysis, highlighting several parameters to consider when evaluating what state and local laws may apply to employees who work remotely, say attorneys at Vedder Price.

  • Philly Law Initiates New Era Of Worker Protections

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    A new worker protection law in Philadelphia includes, among other measures, a private right of action and recordkeeping requirements that may amount to a lower evidentiary standard, introducing a new level of accountability and additional noncompliance risks for employers, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Justices' Ruling Lowers Bar For Reverse Discrimination Suits

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous opinion in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, lowering the evidentiary burden for plaintiffs bringing so-called reverse discrimination claims, may lead to more claims brought by majority group employees — and open the door to legal challenges to employer diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, say attorneys at Ice Miller.

  • 4 Midyear Employer Actions To Reinforce Compliance

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    The legal and political landscape surrounding what the government describes as unlawful diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has become increasingly complex over the past six months, and the midyear juncture presents a strategic opportunity to reinforce commitments to legal integrity, workplace equity and long-term operational resilience, say attorneys at Krevolin & Horst.

  • Proposed State AI Rule Ban Could Alter Employer Compliance

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    A proposal in the congressional budget bill that would ban state and local enforcement of laws and regulations governing artificial intelligence may offer near-term clarity by freezing conflicting rules, but long-term planning would remain difficult for employers seeking safe, lawful AI deployment strategies, say attorneys at Fisher Phillips.

  • What Employers Can Learn From 'Your Friends & Neighbors'

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    The new drama series "Your Friends and Neighbors," follows a hedge fund firm manager who is terminated after an alleged affair with an employee in another department, and his employment struggles can teach us a few lessons about workplace policies, for cause termination and nonsolicitation clauses, says Anita Levian at Levian Law.