By: Jennifer L. Mora and Jeffrey A. Berman

The National Labor Relations Board’s sole Democrat, Chairman Lauren McFerran, has issued two new dissents that portend how a Biden Board likely will reverse precedent established by the Trump Board. This update is our fourth in a multi-part series discussing how Chairman McFerran’s dissents are likely to become the law once President
Continue Reading Back To The Future, Part Four: The Possible Reinstatement Of Obama-Board Rules

By Brandon L. Dixon and Erin Dougherty Foley

Seyfarth Synopsis: A recently filed “reverse” discrimination action in an Ohio federal court is reflective of a trend about which we recently cautioned employers. Namely, employers are facing a pushback–often by white, male employees and applicants–on their efforts to address and eradicate persistent race and gender disparities in their workforces. These
Continue Reading Between a Rock and a Hard Place–Employer’s Longstanding Efforts to Improve Diversity Leads to Accusation of “Reverse” Discrimination

By: Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., Christopher DeGroff, Matthew J. Gagnon, and Alex S. Oxyer

Seyfarth Synopsis:  On September 8, 2020, the EEOC updated its Technical Assistance Q&A webpage to address 18 new questions regarding the application of the Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Rehabilitation Act, and other EEO laws to employers continuing to face the struggles
Continue Reading EEOC Update: The Commission Offers Updated COVID-19 Guidance To Address Additional ADA Considerations

By Christina Jaremus and Erin Dougherty Foley

Seyfarth Synopsis: When an employee violates company rules or policies, a company is within its rights to respond with appropriate corrective action. How to respond, however, can become complicated when an employee engages in legally protected activity at or around the same time as their misconduct.

On April 30, 2020, the 11th
Continue Reading What To Do When Employee Misconduct And Protected Activity Collide?

By Funto P. Seton and Esteban Shardonofsky

Seyfarth Synopsis: The US Supreme Court has never directly decided and the federal courts of appeal have not reached a unanimous decision on whether the “but for” or “motivating factor” standard applies to retaliation claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). An interlocutory appeal recently taken from the federal court
Continue Reading “But For” or “Motivating Factor” Under the FMLA? The Fifth Circuit May Soon Clarify and Join the Circuit Split

By Louisa J. Johnson and James J. Swartz, Jr.

Seyfarth Synopsis: On April, 17, 2020, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Durham v. Rural/Metro Corp., No. 18-14687, considered a matter of first impression within the Circuit and became one of the first appellate courts to consider the following: who is deemed a valid comparator to a pregnant
Continue Reading Eleventh Circuit Finds Comparator Evidence Requirement Less Stringent Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act

By Steve Shardonofsky and Alex S. Oxyer

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed summary judgment in favor of an employer on failure to promote claims, finding that the apparent preselection of a candidate prior to the interview process cast doubt on the selection criteria and the purported reason(s) the plaintiff was not hired. The case —
Continue Reading Employers and Hiring Managers Beware: The Sixth Circuit Reminds Us That Preselection Decisions May Cast Doubt On Hiring Process and Selection Criteria

By Robert A. Fisher and John Ayers-Mann

Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 24, 2020, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination issued significant changes to its regulations regarding the processing of cases. The new procedural regulations are a mixed bag for employers. While some changes are helpful, other changes, such as expanded post-determination discovery and procedures for bringing charges on a class-wide
Continue Reading Newly Issued Regulations Modernize Massachusetts Agency Rules But Impose Burdens on Employers

By Katherine F. MendezSamantha L. Brooks, and Anastacia E. Topaltzas

Seyfarth Synopsis: In our fourth installment on the presidential candidates’ stances on future of work issues, we focus on their approach to training employees for a highly technical workplace, and how they plan on investing in the ever-changing workforce.

At the Democratic Debate in South Carolina
Continue Reading Where the President and Democratic Candidates Stand on Preparing for the Future of Work

By Stan Hill and Cary Reid Burke

Seyfarth Synopsis: Recently, when affirming summary judgment to the employer in a disability discrimination case, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued two welcome reminders. First, to pursue a disability accommodation, an employee must actually ask for an accommodation (although not necessarily using any magic words). Second, and just as fundamentally, employees must
Continue Reading Ask, or You Shall Not Receive: 5th Circuit Nixes Accommodation Claim for Employee’s Failure to Ask for an Accommodation