We all appreciate the practical importance of training. It can certainly help eliminate pesky and undesirable workplace issues. Heck, it can even help create a desirable workplace for employees....more
On May 24, 2024, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to “clarify the rights of employees and the responsibility of employers following allegations of workplace harassment.”...more
Most employers today have anti-harassment policies covering race, gender and other types of discrimination to help comply with state and federal antidiscrimination legislation and to take advantage of the affirmative defense...more
A recent opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit provides good reason for employers to make a robust effort at maintaining and disseminating a policy against discrimination and harassment....more
Employee claims of “hostile work environments” continue to make news both in Maine and on a national level, putting potentially embarrassing and damaging workplace and employee interpersonal issues into the public eye. But...more
Several states are expanding employee workplace discrimination and harassment protections amidst the tightening grip of the #MeToo and Times Up Movements, and New York State has now taken the lead. In 2018, New York passed...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As expected, Governor Cuomo signed another landmark piece of legislation amending New York’s anti-discrimination and sexual harassment laws. Not only does the law significantly expand the protections...more
On Monday, August 12, 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed off on a major expansion of the state's workplace harassment and anti-discrimination law. Although the measures were passed by the State Legislature against...more
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on August 12 signed into law new legislation expanding employee protections against discrimination and harassment. Among the key provisions are a lower standard for proving harassment,...more
On August 12, 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law which strengthens further the state’s Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). The new legislation further amends anti-harassment laws enacted in 2018, discussed here,...more
In its latest development, the New York State Legislature expanded its signature legislation addressing sexual harassment training and prevention and passed a new bill this year that provides greater protections under the New...more
Building in part on amendments passed last year, the New York State Legislature has passed legislation significantly broadening protections for employees. Governor Cuomo is expected to sign the amendments into law shortly....more
On the last day of the 2019–2020 legislative session, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed an omnibus bill. This legislation, once effective, will overhaul New York’s anti-discrimination laws and uproot precedent...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York State Legislature has passed, and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is expected to sign, a bill amending the state’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws. The legislation significantly expands...more
In the closing days of its session, the New York State Legislature has passed sweeping changes to New York’s employment discrimination and harassment law. Major amendments to the state’s Human Rights Law significantly lower...more
Employment lawyers and most HR professionals are familiar with the Faragher-Ellerth defense to a claim of sexual harassment. In short, if an employer can show that (1) it exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct...more
On July 3, 2018 the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled on the case of Minarsky v. Susquehanna County et al, 17-2646 (Jul. 3, 2018). The case clarifies and limits the scope of the Faragher-Ellerth...more
Stories of high-profile individuals in politics, media, entertainment and hospitality alleged to have engaged in sexual harassment, or worse, have been breaking at an unprecedented rate. In the wake of these allegations,...more
The news has been filled lately with reports of harassment allegations against all sorts of famous people. From politicians to movie stars, many public figures are finding themselves embroiled in legal battles based on their...more
With potential deregulation at the federal level and variance among the states, keeping up with employment law can be challenging. Here are some brief answers to employment-related questions frequently asked by corporate...more
Jackson Lewis has submitted comments to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on the Proposed Enforcement Guidance on Unlawful Harassment. The Proposed Guidance sets out to define what constitutes harassment, examine...more
Employers implement employee training programs for a variety of reasons, such as furthering professional development and improving poor performance, ensuring compliance with information security protocols and competence using...more
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued proposed guidance crystallizing the agency’s expectation that employers be proactive in eliminating workplace harassment. The Proposed Enforcement Guidance on...more
Maintaining a company anti-harassment policy on a bulletin board and website is not enough to avoid liability for sexual discrimination according to a recent decision. On July 20, 2016, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals...more
A well-drafted anti-sexual harassment policy and complaint procedure can provide useful defenses for employers defending against claims of sexual harassment. However, a recent decision from the Fifth Circuit should remind...more