It is estimated that at least 5 million working Americans will be eligible for overtime if the Department of Labor changes its rules regarding ‘exempt’ employees.
Employment
US Supreme Court Rules Same Sex Marriage
The US Supreme Court has ruled that same sex couples have a fundamental right to marriage protected under the US Constitution. In Obergefell et al v. Hodges, the Court found Constitutional protection under the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses. The vote was 5-4 with extensive dissenting opinions.
Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act – Again
The Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Affordable Health Care Act for a second time, announcing its decision in King v. Burwell this morning. In short, the Court ruled that individuals who get their health care insurance through exchanges established by the federal governments will be eligible for tax subsidies.
EEOC Files Transgender Discrimination Claim
As we predicted at our June 2 Employment Breakfast, the EEOC is forging an aggressive path to protecting the rights of Transgender employees
Supreme Court Decides Pregnancy Discrimination Case
The United States Supreme Court ruled this morning that pregnant workers may be able to prevail in a civil lawsuit claiming lack of accommodations for pregnant workers
Retaliation Charges Continue to Dominate Discrimination Lawsuits
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency charged with enforcing our federal discrimination laws, yesterday released its litigation enforcement statistics for fiscal year 2014. The statistics confirm what we have all been observing: retaliation is the most frequently cited basis for discrimination lawsuits.
Employees Granted Email Access for Union Organizing
The National Labor Relations Board continues to make sweeping changes to the electronic workplace in the name of protecting concerted activities, specifically, union organizing. The NLRB’s impact on social media policies will be one of the issues we are examining in the Top 10 Employment Issues for 2014 (look for the Top 10 in January). […]
Wage Theft in the Face of the New Minimum Wage
As local employers wrestle with the implications of the upcoming increases in the minimum wage, the City of Seattle promises increased vigilance and enforcement for claims of underpaid wages.
Protecting Your Business
Non-compete clauses are becoming more commonplace at every level, but are they becoming more enforceable?
Washington Supreme Court Clarifies the Elements of Age Discrimination Suits in Washington
Recently, the Washington Supreme Court clarified that, under Washington’s Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), an employee may bring an age discrimination case to trial if he or she can state a prima facie case and show there are genuine issues of material fact about whether discrimination was a substantial factor motivating the employer’s adverse employment action.