As employers begin laying the groundwork for reopening and returning their businesses to “normal,” a large threat of a different form looms on the horizon. The Plaintiffs’ bar is poised for – and has been discussing preparation of – class actions over denied wage, discrimination during furloughs and lay-offs, and exposure to unsafe working conditions.… Continue reading The Coming Surge of Workplace Class Actions in the Wake of COVID-19
Tag: employment practices
Workers Sue McDonald’s Over Harassment at Florida Stores
Two McDonald’s workers in Florida are filing a $500 million class action lawsuit against the company, claiming a “systemic sexual harassment problem” at company-owned stores. The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in Illinois, where McDonald’s is based. In the complaint, current McDonald’s employee Jamelia Fairley and former employee Ashley Reddick say they were… Continue reading Workers Sue McDonald’s Over Harassment at Florida Stores
House Okays Age Discrimination Protections
The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to enact new protections against age discrimination in the workplace, approving a bill that supporters say will give older workers the same safeguards other protected groups enjoy. The House voted 261 to 155 to approve a bill known as the Protect Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. Every… Continue reading House Okays Age Discrimination Protections
Marijuana on the Job: Some New Twists in Drug Testing
Three years after recreational marijuana was legalized in California, it still casts a cloud over most job applicants. Many employers in the state still require drug screening as a prerequisite for hiring someone, experts in the hiring field say. And while recreational use and possession are allowed for people 21 and older, failing a drug… Continue reading Marijuana on the Job: Some New Twists in Drug Testing
‘OK, Boomer’ Makes a Supreme Court Appearance in Age Case
“OK, Boomer” made its first appearance in the Supreme Court Wednesday, invoked by baby boomer Chief Justice John Roberts 12 days before he turns 65. The meme is a favorite of younger generations and Roberts used it in questions in a case about age discrimination in the workplace. “The hiring person, who’s younger, says, ‘OK,… Continue reading ‘OK, Boomer’ Makes a Supreme Court Appearance in Age Case
Ruling in Paul Haggis Case Gives Lift to #MeToo Lawsuits
In a significant ruling that could make it easier to file sexual assault lawsuits in New York City, an appeals court ruled this week that a city law prohibiting “animus based on the victim’s gender” can apply to any accusation of forced sex. A four-judge panel of the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court in… Continue reading Ruling in Paul Haggis Case Gives Lift to #MeToo Lawsuits
Lloyd’s of London Issues Trans and Non-Binary Inclusion Guide
Lloyd’s of London has issued a guide to the inclusion of trans and non-binary people as part of a cultural overhaul at the insurance market after a damaging sexual harassment scandal. The 29-page document, published on the Lloyd’s website, offers advice and resources to people working in insurance about how to foster a “stable emotional… Continue reading Lloyd’s of London Issues Trans and Non-Binary Inclusion Guide
Video Game Maker to Pay $10 Million in Gender Bias Case
The maker of popular video game League of Legends has agreed to pay $10 million to female employees to settle a broad gender discrimination case. Court documents show that Los Angeles-based Riot Games will pay about 1,000 current and former female employees who worked at the company in the last five years. The lawsuit claimed… Continue reading Video Game Maker to Pay $10 Million in Gender Bias Case
McDonald’s to Pay $26 Million to Settle Wage Suit
McDonald’s Corp. agreed to pay $26 million to settle a long-running labor dispute over allegations that the fast-food giant underpaid some of its U.S. staff. Several McDonald’s workers sued the company in 2013 for a variety of labor violations, including using a timekeeping system that prevented workers from being paid overtime. The class-action suit included… Continue reading McDonald’s to Pay $26 Million to Settle Wage Suit
Cannabis Employers Can’t Escape Wage Claims, Says Court
A federal appeals court ruled an employee for a cannabis business could bring a claim for federal wage and hour violations against his employer despite the fact that another federal law continues to criminalize the drug. The September 20, 2019 ruling from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals washes away a defense that other businesses… Continue reading Cannabis Employers Can’t Escape Wage Claims, Says Court