Last week, fast food CEO Andrew Puzder was selected by the incoming administration to lead the U.S. Department of Labor. Puzder is currently the CEO of CKE Restaurants, which owns fast-food chains Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. Puzder has been an outspoken critic of the Obama administration’s labor policies, opposing increases to minimum wage and overtime pay and expansion of paid sick leave policies. His selection is opposed by some conservative commentators who sharply criticize Puzder’s past support for immigration reform measures such as a guest worker program and path to legal status for undocumented immigrants. Puzder drew attention earlier this year for advocating automation in fast-food service.
Discrimination
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A federal judge awarded
$2.38 million in fees to the attorneys who sued Uber over alleged discrimination against blind passengers.
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An arbitrator ruled that a Mississippi loan company
discriminated against a transgender former employee “because of his sex” when the employee’s boss ordered the employee to dress and act like a woman.
Technology
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A
survey by online magazine
Quartz revealed that interns at technology companies earn significantly more annually than most American workers.
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Harvard Business Review explained how companies can realize the
full potential of their data.
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Security experts are worried about the vulnerability of Internet of Things devices to
cyberattack.
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CareerBuilder made a recruiting technology
wish list.
In Other News
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In a
recent survey, almost 80% of workers surveyed said they come to work sick, and nearly half said they would give up a vacation day to allow a sick coworker to stay home.
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Ikea will give its salaried and hourly workers in the U.S. up to four months of
paid parental leave starting January 1.
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The Washington D.C. city council voted to advance
a bill that would guarantee extensive paid family and medical leave for employees of businesses and organizations located in the city.
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The Fifth Circuit agreed to
expedite the Department of Labor’s appeal of an injunction blocking the new overtime rule, with briefing due by the end of January.
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