Here is what we cover in this issue of The Employment Law Reporter: •A federal court in New York has dismissed an employment discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee of the City University of New York. ...more
The Virginia General Assembly has passed new employee protections for three classes of workers: military members, individuals with disabilities, and those using cannabis oil for medical reasons....more
Illinois is not only poised to join the ranks of states that either prohibit or limit employers’ ability to evaluate applicants’ and employees’ criminal conviction records, but also implement a retaliation standard that more...more
After state lawmakers passed sweeping expansions to the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) in August 2019, employers have been left in the dark as to how the state would interpret and enforce the new requirement forcing...more
Effective July 1, 2020, two significant changes to the Illinois Human Rights Act (Act) went into effect. The first change significantly expands the number of employers in Illinois that may be subject to state discrimination...more
For months, Virginia employers have heard about the new wave of employee-friendly legislation that will create additional costs and challenges for Virginia employers. Today, as Virginia enters Phase 3 of its reopening plan,...more
Last week, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law the Virginia Values Act. Effective July 1, 2020, the new statute broadly expands the state’s Human Rights Act to prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity...more
The Illinois legislature engaged in a flurry of recent activity in the area of employee protections. Included below are highlights of new employment laws in place as of January 1, 2020. Significant Restrictions on...more
Under Missouri law, a request for accommodation cannot serve as the basis for a retaliation claim. Last month, the Supreme Court of Missouri issued a unanimous opinion in Lin v. Ellis, No. SC97641, 2020 WL 203145, at *5, —...more
The New Year brings new laws for Illinois employers. Some laws go into effect this Summer, while others are effective as of this month. For employers who have not yet revised handbooks, policies and agreements, the time is...more
In the November 2019 election Virginia gained a Democratic “trifecta”—both legislative chambers and the governorship are now controlled by one political party. It has been over two decades since Democratic lawmakers...more
Illinois employers must begin preparing now for the host of new legal requirements impacting the workplace beginning in 2020. With legal changes on topics ranging from hiring practices and pay equity to drug testing and...more
An amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) expands the definition of “employer” from employers with at least 15 employees to those with one or more employees. The legislation, House Bill 252, was signed by...more
Illinois employers must be cognizant of new Illinois laws including bans on salary history inquiries, restrictions on artificial intelligence interview programs, mandatory sexual harassment prevention training, limitations on...more
On June 14, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the argument that a university should be entitled to special academic deference in employment discrimination claims concerning...more
An individual may file a claim under Tennessee’s “whistleblower statute”—the Tennessee Public Protection Act (TPPA)—if she was fired solely for reporting or refusing to participate in illegal activity. Similar to federal law,...more
In a pair of rulings handed down on Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court expanded the reach of the Missouri Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) to encompass, under certain circumstances, LGBTQ individuals and additional types of...more
On August 24, 2018, Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law Public Act 100-1066, which makes several significant changes to the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA). One additional important change occurred effective June 8, 2018. ...more
The Missouri legislature enacted sweeping changes to the Missouri Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) in 2017, which we previously reported on. Since the amendments went into effect in August 2017, trial courts have grappled with...more
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens recently signed into law changes to the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA), bringing it in line with federal employment law standards. The changes take effect August 28, 2017. The most...more
Good news for Missouri employers: the days of our state arguably being considered the most dangerous place in America for baseless discrimination lawsuits are about to end. Governor Eric Greitens late last week signed...more
For more than a decade, employment discrimination plaintiffs in Missouri have benefited from a lower burden of proof than plaintiffs in federal court or other states. With no statutory cap on compensatory and punitive...more
On May 9, 2017, the Missouri Legislature passed a significant amendment to the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA), which would bring the Act into closer alignment with federal and other states' anti-discrimination statutes. All...more