Labor & Employment

Maid’s Suit Can Raise Model’s Past

A Manhattan judge has ruled that a former maid for Naomi Campbell can introduce evidence of past dust-ups with hired help in her lawsuit against the model. Gaby Gibson claims Campbell hit her and made discriminatory comments when she couldn’t find a pair of Stella McCartney jeans, the New York…

Aug 23, 2007 3:36 PM CDT

Ex-Exec’s Wal-Mart Suit Tossed

A Michigan state judge says a former Wal-Mart executive’s lawsuit was filed in the wrong state. Julie Roehm should have filed her wrongful termination suit in Arkansas rather than Michigan, according to Judge Denise Langford Morris of Oakland County, who dismissed the suit. Roehm’s lawyer, B. Andrew Rifkin, told the…

Aug 23, 2007 3:06 PM CDT

Rove Comments Led to Firing, Lawyer Says

A Texas lawyer contends in a lawsuit that she was fired from the state secretary of state’s office in violation of her First Amendment rights for comments she made in an article about Karl Rove. Elizabeth Reyes claims she was fired in 2005 because her remarks to a Washington Post…

Aug 23, 2007 12:15 PM CDT

Proposed Laws Target Abusive Bosses

Nobody wants to work for a jerk. But unless abusive bosses violate specific prohibitions, such as discriminating against someone because of race or gender, treating employees badly generally isn’t illegal. That could be changing, however. At least four states are considering legislation that would give workers a right to sue…

Aug 21, 2007 4:37 PM CDT

Clifford Chance Settles Sexual Pref Case

In a precedent-setting case in the United Kingdom, a London-based megafirm has reportedly reached a settlement with a former partner who claimed he was discriminated against because of his sexual preference. The agreement, between famed “magic circle” firm Clifford Chance and former partner Michael Bryceland, is for an undisclosed amount.…

Aug 20, 2007 7:30 PM CDT

ABA: End Forced Retirement

The ABA House of Delegates decided Monday that the time has come for law firms to put mandatory age-based retirement policies out to pasture. In addition to recommending that law firms end those policies, the House of Delegates urged that law firms evaluate their older partners on the basis of…

Aug 14, 2007 2:10 AM CDT

Illegal Workers to Enforce Labor Laws?

As the government threatens a crackdown against employers who hire illegal immigrants, companies should also be wary of potential amped-up enforcement of labor law violations by another group—illegal immigrants themselves. If they are fired from their jobs because of federal enforcement of immigration laws, they will have less to lose…

Aug 10, 2007 4:59 PM CDT

Immigrant Crackdown, But More Temps

Updated: An effort to get Congress to pass an immigration bill promoted by the White House failed this year. So the executive branch is trying again. An enhanced program of government enforcement against employers who hire illegal immigrants was announced by the Bush administration today. Employers who ignore immigration laws…

Aug 10, 2007 4:15 PM CDT

Are FedEx Drivers Really Contractors?

Are Federal Express drivers independent contractors? That is the potentially very expensive question to be answered by a federal case in South Bend, Ind., where a judge is to hold a hearing later this month about whether similar claims from drivers in 29 states that they are actually employees should…

Aug 8, 2007 4:12 PM CDT

Fire Illegal Workers, Or Else

Employers will need to start paying attention when they receive a so-called no-match letter informing them that a worker’s Social Security number doesn’t match his name. Under rules expected to be issued this week, employers will have to clear up any clerical error or fire the worker within a fixed…

Aug 8, 2007 12:38 PM CDT

States, Feds Ponder ‘Gender ID’ Bills

Gender identity isn’t a phrase that traditionally comes up in everyday conversation. But it’s a hot topic among lawmakers and lobbyists these days, as both Congress and a growing number of states consider legislation to make discrimination based on gender identity illegal. At this point, it isn’t completely clear what…

Aug 7, 2007 3:56 PM CDT

Blame Game Begins in Bridge Tragedy

Although it’s too early to know exactly what caused Wednesday’s horrific rush-hour collapse of the Interstate 35-W bridge in Minneapolis, fingers are pointing in various directions, and some are thinking about possible litigation. Likely potential targets would include state and federal government entities and private contractors responsible for constructing and…

Aug 3, 2007 7:50 PM CDT

Pregnancy-Bias Class Action OK’d

A federal judge has certified a class action lawsuit on behalf of female sales agents who say Novartis Pharmaceuticals discriminated against them for becoming pregnant. The class could include 4,000 to 5,000 current and former employees, the New York Times reports. David Sanford, who represents the plaintiffs, told the newspaper…

Aug 2, 2007 3:03 PM CDT

Go Google Yourself!

Blogs and Web sites may tell employers more than you want them to know

Aug 1, 2007 12:33 PM CDT

Nike Settles Bias Case

Nike Inc. has agreed to pay $7.6 million and appoint a diversity consultant at its flagship Chicago store to settle a race discrimination lawsuit. A federal judge approved class-action status for the suit last year and expanded the class to include about 400 present and former African-American employees, the Chicago…

Jul 31, 2007 4:17 PM CDT