Complaints of Sexual Orientation Discrimination by Federal Employees now Cognizable Under Title VII

On July 15, 2015, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), in its role as an appellate tribunal reviewing the disposition by a federal agency of a claim of discrimination, issued a decision in which it held that “allegations of discrimination on the basis of [a complainant’s] sexual orientation state a claim of discrimination

Recovering alcoholic claims illegal treatment and firing

A Florida resident filed suit against a New York City-based firm claiming violation of employment law in a 2012 series of alleged actions that he claims were orchestrated in retaliation for him being a recovering alcoholic. Plaintiff of Pompano Beach, Fla., sued Computer Generated Solutions in the U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania on July

The Seventh Circuit holds that FedEx Delivery Drivers are employees, and not independent contractors, of FedEx.

The ruling from the Seventh Circuit has strong implications for drivers working across the United States who have been classified as “independent contractors” and forced to pay for fuel, lease payments, insurance, and other business expenses relating to their work. On July 8th, 2015 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit adopted the

Supreme Court clarifies when employers must accommodate pregnant employees

Pregnant Employees must be granted reasonable accommodations when the employer has provided similar accommodations to other individuals with similar limitations. The United States Supreme Court ruling is a victory for Peggy Young, a former driver for UPS who claimed the package company violated her rights under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). She will now have

Supreme Court Upholds Determination that Loan Officers Were Entitled to Overtime

Mortgage loan officers might be now entitled to a 40-hour work week and overtime pay, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Labor acted within its authority when it reclassified loan officers as non-exempt employees who are eligible for overtime. The ruling stems from a 2010 decision by the Department of Labor to reclassify loan officers.

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in New Jersey

Sexual harassment is a specific type of workplace discrimination based on sex . It includes: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in which submission to or rejection of such conduct explicitly or implicitly affects and individual’s work or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive

New Jersey Voters Stand Behind Workers and Raise Minimum Wage

On November 4th New Jersey residents voted in favor of raising the state minimum wage to $8.25 an hour. Voters overwhelmingly supported the raise, which additionally amends the state Constitution to adjust the minimum wage in tandem with the rise of inflation. The results of the public ballot will amend Article I of the New Jersey

Discrimination Lawsuit Charges Red Lobster Franchisee with Sexual Harassment

A Red Lobster Franchisee, GMRI, Inc., has been charged in a lawsuit alleging pervasive sexual harassment and discrimination at its Salisbury, MD location, in violation of federal law. The Philadelphia Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) district office in Pennsylvania is bringing the claim.   The EEOC is a federal agency charged with handling employment discrimination

Legislature Considering Bill to Amend the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to Expand the Rights of Pregnant Employees

On September 30, 2013, New Jersey (NJ) Senate proposed legislation requiring employers to make reasonable accommodation available for pregnancy-related needs when requested by the employees with the advice of their physician. Currently, under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJ LAD), there is no requirement that preferential leave be given to a pregnant employee, unless

Reports of Religious Discrimination Rising in New Jersey

Religious discrimination in the workplace continues to rise in New Jersey and around the country.  As the Wall Street Journal recently reported,  reports of employment-based religious-discrimination are sky rocketing.  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has reported a surge of wide-ranging employee claims of religious discrimination as expressions of faith have grown more diverse. The