While the rest of the country was celebrating with fireworks, last week California celebrated the Fourth of July with Governor Newsom signing the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace For Natural Hair) into law. It had already passed unanimously in the California Assembly and Senate. The Act prohibits the enforcement of dress codes
Labor & Employment
Updates to the New York Harassment and Discrimination Laws
By Alan H. Bowie, Jr. & Sarah S. Healey on
Posted in Labor & Employment, Sexual Harassment
At the close of its 2019 session, the New York General Assembly passed substantial changes to the state’s anti-harassment and discrimination laws, which Governor Andrew Cuomo has indicated that he will sign into law. The new law applies to all protected classes under NY law.
The changes to the New York anti-harassment and discrimination laws…
U.S. Supreme Court Strengthens Job Bias Claims
By Holly Wheeler & Vincent Farisello on
Posted in Labor & Employment
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously this week that in certain cases federal courts may hear discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act even if the claims were not brought first to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a state administrative agency.
Added Allegations
Employees still generally must bring Title VII discrimination…
Connecticut General Assembly Passes Minimum Wage Increase
By Alan H. Bowie, Jr. & Nick Zaino on
Posted in Labor & Employment, Wage and Hour
Last Friday, the Connecticut Senate voted to approve House Bill 5004 titled “An Act Increasing The Minimum Wage”, which was approved by the Connecticut House of Representatives. As the title suggests, this bill would increase the minimum wage to $15 by year 2023. However, there are several other important changes. It is expected…
Class Action Waivers in Employment Agreements Continue to be a Target
By Holly Wheeler & Sarah S. Healey on
Posted in Labor & Employment
Democratic leaders are at it again, pushing a bill that would topple the United States Supreme Court 2018 decision in Epic Systems v. Lewis. In effect, the proposed bill would bar employers from requiring class action waivers and mandatory arbitration, thus allow workers to bring employment claims as a group as well as bring…
EEOC Requires Employers to Provide Pay Data
By Alan H. Bowie, Jr. & Nick Zaino on
Posted in Labor & Employment
On May 3, 2019, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) announced that it would collect EEO-1 Component 2 pay data from required EEO-1 filers (“Filers”) for the calendar years 2017 and 2018 by September 30, 2019.
This announcement was a result of a federal district court’s decision in a case titled National Women’s Law Center, …
United States Supreme Court to Weigh in on LGBTQ Rights in the Workplace
By Holly Wheeler & Vincent Farisello on
Posted in Labor & Employment
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear three cases in the next term to determine whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or sex stereotyping.
Federal courts have been divided on whether Title VII protects employees from sex discrimination based on sexual orientation or…
EEOC Releases Data Showing Decline in Discrimination Claims in 2018
By Holly Wheeler & Sarah S. Healey on
Posted in Labor & Employment, Sexual Harassment
Employment discrimination charges are at a twelve-year low, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) reported last week. The EEOC released data for charges of workplace discrimination in fiscal year 2018. However, the number of sexual harassment charges increased, likely due to the #MeToo movement which has focused on publicizing and eradicating sexual harassment in…
Department of Labor Proposes New Rules
By Alan H. Bowie, Jr. & Sarah S. Healey on
Posted in Department of Labor, Labor & Employment
The Federal Department of Labor (“DOL”) recently proposed two new rules addressing joint employer status and overtime pay calculation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). These proposals are significant because the underlying regulations had not been updated in decades.
Joint Employer Status
On April 1, 2019, the DOL proposed the new rule for determining…
House Passes Bill: Finally Equal Pay for the Sexes?
By Holly Wheeler & Sarah S. Healey on
Posted in Labor & Employment, Pay Equity
On March 27, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act addressing the gender pay gap by bolstering the Equal Pay Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn, would protect employees from pay discrimination and hold employers accountable for pay discrimination on the basis of sex. Among other changes,…