Employment Law Blog

New Year Brings New Federal Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Employees

At the end of December, Congress passed two bills that alter employers’ obligations to pregnant and nursing employees, with new standards that will be going into effect in 2023. The first of these bills is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which provides employees who are experiencing conditions arising from pregnancy or childbirth with the right to reasonable accommodations. The second is the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act, also known as the PUMP Act. While there are already federal requirements in place for employers to provide postpartum employees with nursing facilities meeting certain standards, the PUMP Act expands the coverage of those requirements to more types of employees. More >

WEBINAR - Scary Stories from the HR Department, Chapter V: Invasion of the Employee Snatchers!

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Fourth Circuit Rules That Gender Dysphoria Is Not Excluded by ADA

Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that gender dysphoria is not to be excluded from the broad definition of “disability” laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This decision may signal a new direction for discrimination law, and employers should be aware of its impacts. More >

EEOC Updates Caregiver Guidance for Employers

Though we are now two years into the pandemic, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is still not finished issuing COVID-related guidance for employers. The Commission’s latest statement involves issues of bias regarding employees with caregiver responsibilities, especially such responsibilities relating to or resulting from the pandemic. Employers should be aware of how caregiver bias may manifest itself and how to avoid illegal discrimination per new EEOC guidance. More >

EEOC Updates Guidance on COVID-19 and ADA

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued updates providing guidance for employers in response to new developments and information. This week, the EEOC has issued a new technical assistance update, clarifying the circumstances under which the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act may be applied to COVID-19. More >

WEBINAR - Scary Stories from the HR Department, Chapter 4: Little Shot of Horrors

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Vaccine Mandate Mythbusting: Debunking 5 Common Misconceptions for Employers

For more on this subject, view our webinar, Myths, Masks, and Mandates: More Advice for the Continuing Workplace Challenges of COVID-19.

With the rise of COVID-19 variants and the return to in-office work, more employers are making the decision to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, a number of pervasive myths about vaccine mandates have fueled employee backlash and made many employers hesitant to enact such policies. Employers should be aware of these myths for what they are and understand the facts behind them. More >

Long-Term COVID Effects May Qualify as a Disability under the ADA—What Employers Need to Know

For more on this subject, view our webinar, Myths, Masks, and Mandates: More Advice for the Continuing Workplace Challenges of COVID-19.

We are still learning more about the virus, including its long-term effects on those who have been infected. Because of the severity of these long-lasting symptoms, both the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently released guidance stating that “long COVID” may qualify as a disability under anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). An employer must remain aware of the long-term effects that COVID can have on its workforce and potential accommodations that its employees may need.  More >

EEOC Updates Compliance Manual on Religious Discrimination

Recently, the EEOC released updated guidance for employers regarding religious discrimination and accommodations in the Compliance Manual Section on Religious Discrimination. The updates override the previous iteration of the manual published in 2008. Importantly, this manual does not bind employers by law, but it does inform the way that the EEOC processes claims under the law and is therefore a crucial resource for employers.  With these updates, the EEOC clarified an important aspect of religious discrimination: who is protected by the Title VII. More >

SCOTUS Rules On Landmark LGBTQ+ Workplace Protections

A landmark decision was handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States on June 15, 2020. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court found that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects employees from discrimination based on sex, also extends protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This decision is historic for LGBTQ+ employees. More >