In June 2023, Governor Jared Polis signed into law the Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (“POWR”) Act, dramatically altering Colorado’s antidiscrimination law, and presenting a host of new challenges for employers....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Seyfarth’s excellent publication “Cal-Peculiarities: How California Employment Law Is Different,” which is updated annually, highlights the many unique aspects of the Golden State’s employment law. ...more
The Colorado legislature has been busy this season passing new employment laws, adding to your compliance obligations in a big way. We reviewed the key workplace laws that Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into effect and...more
Our February update includes new cases on marital status discrimination, including a general refresher on direct discrimination, a case of whether private WhatsApp messages can be used in tribunal proceedings, and how to deal...more
The major elements of Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act (OWFA) come into effect on October 1, 2020. Employers should review their workplace discrimination and harassment policies, employment agreements, and settlement...more
In 1980, the New York Court of Appeals (the highest court in New York) held that the prohibition against "marital status" discrimination contained in the New York State Human Rights Law includes only discrimination based on...more
For better or worse, when your parents disapprove of the person you’ve chosen to marry, there’s not much recourse in the law (although some might call your parents’ attitude a form of intentional infliction of emotional...more
The scope of New York City’s marital status discrimination law was just expanded by a state appeals court, meaning that employers need to be even more wary when it comes to any workplace decisions taken on the basis of who...more
Although sex discrimination claims are often met with explanations that the alleged offender didn’t realize what they said or did was offensive, or that the recipient misinterpreted the words or actions of the alleged...more
In a recent, unpublished opinion, a California Court of Appeal found in favor of an employer on a marital status discrimination claim than an employee brought under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The court held...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In Nakai v. Friendship House Association of American Indians, Inc., the California Court of Appeal considered whether marital disputes that spill into the workplace trigger FEHA’s marital status protections...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: A federal judge has allowed a discrimination lawsuit to proceed against the Archdiocese of Chicago. The plaintiff alleges that his engagement to another man resulted in his termination. The church sought...more
In Smith v. Millville Rescue Squad, (A-19-14, June 21, 2016), the New Jersey Supreme Court broadly interpreted the prohibition against marital status discrimination in the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to protect a person...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In two recent cases, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously expanded state law to protect individuals going through a divorce from discrimination, and remanded another case to the trial court with...more
Unfortunately, not all marriages are happily ever after. When divorce seems inevitable, losing your job as a result of a looming divorce is something no employee wants to worry about. On June 21, 2016, the New Jersey...more
During a recent conversation with an experienced business lawyer, it became clear that, despite his representation of companies in several states, he was unfamiliar with the concept of marital status discrimination. That got...more
In Smith v. Millville Rescue Squad, 2014 WL 2894924 (App. Div. June 27, 2014), the Appellate Division held that the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination’s (NJLAD) prohibition against discrimination based on “marital status”...more
On May 28, 2014, the Houston City Council passed the controversial Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (“HERO”) by a vote of 11 to 6. HERO expands the “protected classifications” beyond those currently provided by federal or Texas...more