Law and the Workplace

Tag Archives: retaliation

Sweeping Expansion of Protections Relating to Workplace Discrimination on the Horizon in New York State

By Allan Bloom, Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
A suite of bills aimed at further enhancing protections for both employees and independent contractors regarding discrimination, harassment and retaliation in the workplace are on the horizon in New York State.  Several of these bills, if ultimately enacted, would potentially lead to a groundbreaking shift in how employers approach settlement of discrimination, harassment and retaliation … Continue Reading

Hearing Scheduled On Proposed Amendments to Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

By Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Independent Contractor, Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
On June 11, 2020, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (“DFML”) will hold a virtual public hearing on its recent proposed amendments to the final regulations pertaining to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (“PFML”) issued in June 2019.  (Instructions for registering for the virtual hearing are available at this link).  A … Continue Reading

SJC Finds Commissions Lost Due to Retaliation Are Subject to Trebling

By Heylee Bernstein and Scott Faust on Posted in Litigation and Arbitration, Wage and Hour
In a February 12, 2020 decision, Parker v. EnerNOC, Inc., SJC-12703, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that the full commission which would have been due to an employee had she not been retaliated against and terminated is a “lost wage” eligible to be trebled under the Wage Act. While employed by EnerNOC, the plaintiff … Continue Reading

Massachusetts SJC Holds Employers’ Denials of Lateral Transfers May Be Adverse Actions in Discrimination Cases

By Mark W. Batten, Samantha Regenbogen Manelin and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Massachusetts employers’ decision-making processes with regards to lateral, internal employee transfers are now subject to possible state law discrimination claims.  On January 29, 2019, the SJC issued its decision in Yee v. Massachusetts State Police, SCJ-12485, holding that when two jobs at the same level for the same employer offer “material differences” in compensation opportunity, … Continue Reading

[Podcast]: New York State Anti-Harassment Law

By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, The Proskauer Brief Podcast, Workplace Policies and Procedures
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partner Evandro Gigante and associate Laura Fant discuss recent amendments to New York State law prohibiting sexual harassment.  The law will require employers to distribute policies prohibiting sexual harassment in the work place and implement annual training on sexual harassment.  These policies, which much be distributed by October 9, 2018, … Continue Reading

New York State Issues Final Guidance on Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Requirements In Advance of October 9 Effective Date

By Arielle E. Kobetz, Laura Fant, Evandro Gigante and Daryl Leon on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
As we have previously reported,  New York State has enacted several significant measures regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. Effective October 9, 2018, all New York State employers are required to adopt written sexual harassment prevention policies and institute annual anti-harassment training for employees (see below for more details on specific requirements and deadlines).  After … Continue Reading

New Jersey Governor Signs Sweeping Pay Equity Act Into Law

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Maryssa Mataras on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
As anticipated, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law the Diane B. Allen Pay Equity Act (the “Act”).  The Act will take effect on July 1, 2018, giving employers approximately two months to review their policies to ensure compliance. As we previously reported, the Act will, among other things, make it an unlawful … Continue Reading

New Jersey Legislature Passes New Pay Equity Bill

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Maryssa Mataras on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
The New Jersey state legislature has passed a new pay equity law which will, among other things, make it an unlawful employment practice to pay employees of any protected class under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) at a lesser rate than other employees who perform “substantially similar work” unless the differential is based … Continue Reading

Seventh Circuit: EEOC May Continue Investigation After Dismissal of Private Lawsuit

By Amanda Wiley and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
The Seventh Circuit recently concluded that the EEOC’s investigative powers do not end when a lawsuit related to the originating charge ends.  EEOC v. Union Pacific, No. 15-cv-3452 (Aug. 15, 2017). Background.  Two former railroad employees alleged race discrimination and retaliation in EEOC charges, asserting that they were not permitted to take an advancement test … Continue Reading

Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Becomes Law

By Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
On July 27, 2017 Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“MPWFA”), a bill which had unanimously passed in both the House and Senate. As discussed previously, the MPWFA (formerly H. 3816) ensures that pregnant workers or workers with pregnancy-related conditions (such as nursing) receive reasonable accommodations and protection … Continue Reading

Connecticut Expands Anti-Discrimination and Accommodation Protections for Pregnant Employees and Applicants

By Keisha-Ann Gray and Laura Fant on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Earlier this month, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has signed into law “An Act Concerning Pregnant Women in the Workplace” (the “Act”), which enhances employment protections for pregnant employees and applicants under the state’s existing anti-discrimination law. The expanded protections amend the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (“CFEPA”) and will go into effect October 1, 2017. … Continue Reading

Fifth Circuit Joins Sister Circuits in Holding That Employees May Recover Emotional Distress Damages in FLSA Retaliation Suits

By Minia Bremenstul and Nicole Eichberger on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Wage and Hour
On December 19, 2016, the Fifth Circuit joined the Sixth and Seventh Circuits in holding that “employees” under the FLSA may recover emotional distress damages in FLSA retaliation actions, finding that the district court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on the availability of emotional distress damages for an employee’s retaliation claim. In so … Continue Reading

EEOC Issues Fiscal Year 2016 Performance Report

By Evandro Gigante and Marissa A. Mastroianni on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
EEOC sealOn November 15, 2016, the EEOC published its Fiscal Year 2016 Performance and Accountability Report. The Performance Report details the EEOC’s efforts over the past fiscal year, which ran from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016, toward achieving “equality and justice for all” as described by Chair Jenny Yang.  In 2012, the agency adopted … Continue Reading

Oregon Amends Social Media Law

By Daniel Saperstein and Katharine Parker on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Man using smartphoneAbout two years ago, Oregon enacted a law restricting employers from accessing the personal social media accounts of their applicants and employees.  For more on the law, see our prior client alert. Last week, Oregon’s governor signed a bill to broaden the protections of the state’s social media law.  The amendment takes effect January 1, … Continue Reading

New Connecticut Online Privacy Law Protects Prospective & Current Employees

By Daniel Saperstein and Katharine Parker on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Man using smartphoneEarlier this week, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed a law to protect prospective and current employees from employer interference with their “personal online accounts.” The new law, which will take effect on October 1, 2015, defines personal online accounts to include any online account used by a prospective or current employee exclusively for personal … Continue Reading

New Montana Law Protects Employee Social Media Accounts

By Daniel Saperstein, Joseph O’Keefe and Kelly Anne Targett on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Man using smartphoneYesterday, Montana became the twentieth state to enact a law protecting employees from employer interference with personal social media accounts.  The law, which takes effect immediately, prohibits employers from requiring or requesting that a current or prospective employee: disclose a username or password to his or her personal social media account; access a personal social … Continue Reading

Maryland Passes Bill Protecting Interns From Employment Discrimination

By Alex Weinstein and Guy Brenner on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
On April 14, 2015, an act protecting interns in Maryland from employment discrimination officially became law. As of October 1, 2015, employers are prohibited from discriminating against interns with respect to the terms, conditions or privileges of their internships (including offering and terminating internships), on the basis of the individual’s race, color, religion, sex, age, … Continue Reading

Virginia’s Social Media Law Continues Growing Trend

By Daniel Saperstein and Guy Brenner on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Man using smartphoneVirginia is now the nineteenth state to provide increased social media protections to prospective and current employees, joining Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. Effective July 1, 2015, Virginia’s law will prohibit an employer from requiring a prospective … Continue Reading

Third Circuit Nixes EEOC Retaliation Suit

By Daniel Saperstein, Joseph O’Keefe and Matthew Engel on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Independent Contractor, Litigation and Arbitration, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Last week, in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) v. Allstate Insurance Co., No. 2-01-cv-07402 (3d Cir. Feb. 13, 2015), the Third Circuit affirmed that the defendant did not violate federal anti-retaliation laws by offering thousands of terminated at-will employees the opportunity to continue working as independent contractors in exchange for signing a release. By way … Continue Reading

No End In Sight For Wave of Paid Family and Sick Leave Laws

By Katharine Parker on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Leaves of Absences, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Employers have been scrambling to keep up with the multitude of paid sick leave laws that were passed in the last several years.  These laws vary by jurisdiction and often can’t be easily reconciled into a uniform policy — an issue for multi-state employers.  As reported in today’s New York Times, President Obama is asking … Continue Reading

The Top 10 Trends in New Jersey Employment Law in 2014

By John Barry, Joseph O’Keefe, Matthew Engel and Daniel Saperstein on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Leaves of Absences, Litigation and Arbitration, Performance Management, Discipline & Termination, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
2014 was another busy year for developments in New Jersey employment law, including in ten key areas—whistleblowing, pre-employment inquiries/background checks, amendments to the Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”), LAD litigation, wage and hour, the Family Medical Leave Act, sick leave, states of emergency, arbitration, and “unemployment discrimination.”  Read our Top 10 newsletter to learn more about … Continue Reading

Prince George’s County “Bans the Box”

By Daniel Saperstein and Katharine Parker on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Add another locality to the growing list that have “banned the box” for private employers.  Starting January 20, 2015, employers with at least twenty-five full-time employees in Prince George’s County (MD) can no longer ask applicants about their criminal records on employment applications (i.e., banning the box) or through another medium (such as a consumer … Continue Reading

In The Eleventh Circut, Employers Can Terminate “Protected” Employees For Poor Performance And Violation Of Company Policy

By Allan Weitzman and Jurate Schwartz on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Leaves of Absences, Litigation and Arbitration, Performance Management, Discipline & Termination, Workplace Policies and Procedures
On December 4, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld summary judgment in favor of an employer against a pregnant employee who had requested FMLA, who was told by her direct supervisor “that [her] pregnancy was affecting [her] effectiveness” and who had complained about this to the employer’s Ethics Hotline. In … Continue Reading
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