Virginia Employer Law

Would Your Company Need to Let an Intellectually Disabled Employee Work Shorter Shifts?

the situation You have an employee with intellectual limitations who typically has worked a consistent schedule of 12 pm until 4 pm.  The employee has historically been a good employee and received good marks on performance reviews.  You implement a new computerized scheduling process, pursuant to which employees are all automatically scheduled for various eight […]

READ MORE

Heads Up—Deadline for Using New I-9 Forms Approaching

the situation Back in November, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) published a revised version of Form I-9, the tool employers must use in connection with establishing the eligibility of individuals for employment under the Immigration Reform and Control Act.  Employers must switch over to the new version of the form by January 22, 2017 […]

READ MORE

But He Said it Too! Does Employee’s Use of Racial Epithet Negate Discrimination Claim?

the situation An employee asserts that he has been subjected to a hostile work environment, partially based on claims that other employees and supervisors regularly used racial epithets in his presence.  But, you are aware that the complaining employee had been known to use those very same terms at times. Does that affect his claim […]

READ MORE

Customer’s Sexual Harassment of Employee—Could You be Liable?

the situation A female employee complains about a particular customer’s conduct—specifically complaining about some unwelcome touching, some sexually inappropriate statements, and stalking-type behavior.  What are you obligated to do?  If you don’t take sufficient action, can that employee bring a claim against you under Title VII?

READ MORE

Emotional Distress Damages Allowed in FLSA Retaliation Claim?

the situation An employee claims that not only was he not properly paid overtime owed to him, but that when he complained about it, his employer retaliated against him—can he really claim damages based on pain and suffering?

READ MORE

Depression and the ADA According to the EEOC

the situation Mental health conditions, including depression and PTSD, can trigger protection under the ADA. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees based upon these conditions and also must provide reasonable accommodations to employees as necessary. But what does this mean in reality?

READ MORE

Jimmy John’s Settles Case Involving Overzealous Non-competes

the situation In June, the Attorney General for the state of Illinois filed a lawsuit against Jimmy John’s, alleging that its non-compete agreement was illegal and unenforceable under Illinois law.  The non-compete applied to all employees, including sandwich makers and delivery drivers, and prohibited them from working in any other business that earns more than […]

READ MORE

What Exactly is National Origin Discrimination?

the situation National origin discrimination can be a bit tricky for employers-what exactly does it mean?  Does it just have to do with the country in which one was born?  What about people that share a language or culture, but not necessarily a country of origin?  And how does race come into play?

READ MORE

Federal Court Blocks Overtime Changes

the situation Back in September, 21 states filed a lawsuit in federal court in Texas challenging the constitutionality of the rule changes scheduled to go into effect on December 1.  State of Nevada v. U.S. Dept. of Labor, Case No. 4:16cv00731 (E.D. Tex.).  The states (and many other business groups that ended up joining the […]

READ MORE

Federal Court Allows EEOC’s Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claim to Go Forward

the situation The EEOC has definitively targeted harassment and discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation, taking the position that sexual orientation is covered by Title VII.  And back in March, the EEOC filed a lawsuit against an employer in Pennsylvania in one of the first lawsuits brought by the EEOC alleging sexual orientation […]

READ MORE