Image by Ivorytowers from Pixabay Damn, I’m good! Yesterday morning, my post, “Eminem’s take on federal anti-discrimination administrative exhaustion requirements. Probably” went live. Now, scroll down to the “Takeaways For Employers” section. You’ll see some discussion there about how the Supreme Court needed to resolve an open issue in the…
Image Credit: Pixabay.com (https://pixabay.com/vectors/devil-red-demon-cartoon-satan-29973/) Howard Stern interviewed Alec Baldwin recently. Mr. Baldwin was talking about going to anger management classes and realizing quickly that, well, he’s really not that angry. At least not compared to some of the other folks required to attend anger management classes. Now, consider your most…
Won’t you help little Ivy Meyer achieve her Girl Scout Cookies sales goal? It’s that time of year again. Coworkers have begun bombarding you with requests to purchase Girl Scout Cookies. So, in that spirit, let’s tackle: Whether unions will start organizing your workplace if you relax your no-solicitation policy…
Image Credit: Publicdomanpictures.net (https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=6968&picture=sticks-n-stones) Meet “John” the firefighter. According to this federal court opinion, John (not his real name) is a Christian and holds various moral opinions; he also wears a cross and says grace before meals. And, apparently, there was some friction between John and his co-workers. Here’s how the…
Image Credit: Pixabay.com (https://pixabay.com/en/angel-church-religion-edward-312462/) Just ask a midwest employer that had its motion for summary judgment denied and now may have to defend a hostile work environment claim before a federal jury. In that case, the plaintiff and his supervisor often clashed over the plaintiff’s religious views. Among other things: The…
By Jeffrey Beall – Own work, CC BY 4.0, Link Most of you have probably heard of the case that went to the Supreme Court involving a Colorado baker who would customize a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because he believed that doing so would violate his religious beliefs.…
Image Credit: FreeStockPhotos.biz (http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/15030) We employment lawyers have stories upon stories. When it comes to the employer-employee relationship, especially when that relationship hits the skids, we’ve seen it all. But, every once in a while there comes a story that even raises my eyebrows. Last week, the EEOC issued a…
Image Credit: Pexels.com and http://negativespace.co/photos/computer-in-bed-2/) Do your employees appreciate that what they do on social media on their own time can cost them their job? Do your employees think that “freedom of speech” can save them from getting fired? “F*** Sister Jean -everyone.” Last week, a radio talk-show host in…
Image Credit: Pixabay.com (https://pixabay.com/en/blueprint-ruler-architecture-964629/) I started the week presenting to HR audiences in DC and NJ about accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Today, I want to pivot into religious accommodations by highlighting a recent federal court decision, which can teach employers a thing or two about how to engage…
Last Thursday, the Third Circuit of Appeals issued this opinion in Fallon v. Mercy Catholic Medical Center of Southeastern Pennsylvania, in which the court addressed religious accommodation and flu shots. Specifically, the court focused on what constitutes “religion” under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. So, rather than write…