By Gina Gi and Daniel Whang
Seyfarth Synopsis: In Steven Kruitbosch v. Bakersfield Recovery Services, 114 Cal.App.5th 200 (2025), the California Court of Appeal for the Fifth District held that an employer’s response, or lack thereof, to an employee complaint of offsite harassment is sufficient to state a claim for hostile work environment, even when that off-site
Continue Reading Out of “Site,” But Not Out of Mind: Employer’s Refusal to Respond to Offsite and Off-Duty Harassment Can Be Sufficient to Create a Claim for Hostile Work Environment
Seyfarth Synopsis: The 4th Circuit rejected a punitive damages award won by a male AutoZone worker who accused the Company of blatantly ignoring complaints of sexual harassment by his female co-worker, finding that managers who failed to act on his complaint, without proof of intentional conduct, did not warrant a punitive 
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a manager’s behavior toward an employee was “reprehensible and improper,” but did not rise to the level of a hostile work environment under Title VII, and affirmed summary judgment for defendants. 
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Illinois Senate unanimously passed an all-encompassing sexual harassment bill, which hits all of the big ticket workplace sexual harassment hot topics, including imposing sexual harassment training and extensive reporting requirements, bans on non-disclosure agreements, arbitration clauses and non-disparagement clauses, and hefty penalties for non- compliance. Whether the House will 
Seyfarth Synopsis: According to the 4th Circuit, a female employee who was subjected to false rumors that her promotion was a result of sleeping with the boss can levy her claim for sex-based discrimination against her employer. The Court held that the Company served as a catalyst for the gossip stemming 
Seyfarth Synopsis: In a recent decision, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that the use of the N-Word in the workplace one time is sufficient to trigger a hostile work environment. Additionally, the Eleventh Circuit held that an employer may be held liable for workplace harassment when the plaintiff admitted that 
Seyfarth Synopsis: Telling African-American employees “that if they had ‘n—– rigged’ the fence, they would be fired” may be enough, standing alone, to state a hostile work environment claim. The Third Circuit clarifies that “severe or pervasive” discrimination is the correct standard for hostile work environment claims. 
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held for the first time that the continuing violation doctrine applies even when a plaintiff was subject to harassment that was severe enough to put the employee on notice of the duty to file a complaint. The lower court will now consider conduct