Last week, Uber suffered a setback in one of the many driver-initiated lawsuits it’s defending.  A federal judge in California ruled that the popular ride-sharing app cannot compel arbitration of claims by drivers relating to mandatory background checks.  Arbitration of employment claims, often favored by employers because it can prevent costly litigation, has been controversial for years.  In 1997, the EEOC issued a policy statement stating, “agreements that mandate binding arbitration of discrimination claims as a condition of employment are contrary to the fundamental principles” of anti-discrimination law.  Other agencies have followed suit, making arbitration a risky proposition.

Discrimination

• A transportation and logistics company will pay $180,000 to five employees to settle race and national origin discrimination claims brought by the EEOC.
• TalentCulture offered great tips on promoting the success of women in technology.
• Jon Hyman covered a case in which a recruiter forwarded an email to an applicant that included the hiring manager’s discriminatory reason for the applicant’s non-selection.
• The U.S. Department of Defense – the U.S.’s largest employer – added sexual orientation to its list of protected classes under its EEO policy.
• The Boston Globe covered studies showing that changing your name on your resume could minimize discrimination.

In other developments: