Employment & Labor
Workplace law, discrimination, labor relations, and workforce regulation
Judge Allows Defamation Suit Over Political Service Refusal to Proceed
A federal judge allows a defamation lawsuit involving an employee accused of political-motivated service refusal to advance in D.C. court.
OpenAI to pay $3.2M settlement over DOJ bias claims favoring visa holders
OpenAI will pay $3.2 million to settle DOJ allegations of employment discrimination favoring temporary visa holders over U.S. workers in hiring.
Courts limit arbitration to block dismissal of sexual harassment suits
New rulings restrict use of arbitration clauses to dismiss sexual harassment claims, affecting employment litigation nationwide.
Federal Judge Approves $24.75M Settlement for Grubhub Drivers
A federal judge approves a $24.75 million settlement for thousands of California Grubhub drivers misclassified as contractors, marking a milestone in gig worker rights.
Fifth Circuit: Thorough Harassment Probes Are Crucial to Avoid Liability
The Fifth Circuit's July 2026 ruling in SkyWest Airlines highlights the need for comprehensive harassment investigations to reduce legal risk in workplace disputes.
New York Expands Employer Rules on Severance, Tuition, Sick Leave
New York updates labor laws including severance pay restrictions, tuition repayment carve-outs, and expanded sick leave requirements.
UAE Employment Law Tightens Wage Rules Starting June 2026
UAE raises Wage Protection System compliance to 85% and enforces stricter labor rules from June 2026, impacting global employers.
Warner Bros. Sues Amazon for Poaching Exec Under California Contract
Warner Bros. sues Amazon claiming illegal poaching of executive Pia Barlow under enforceable California employment agreements, raising legal questions in entertainment.
Federal Workers Sue USDA Sec. Over Religious Emails, Seek Injunction
USDA employees and union sue Sec. Brooke Rollins for sending Christian emails, raising legal questions on religious expression and workplace rights.
Meta Faces Lawsuit Over AI-Driven Layoffs Targeting Employees on Leave
26 Meta employees sue claiming AI laid off workers disproportionately on medical or parental leave, raising AI employment law risks.
EEOC Votes July 21 to End Employer Race and Sex Data Reporting
On July 21, 2026, the EEOC voted to propose ending the EEO-1 race and sex demographic reporting for large employers and federal contractors.
Washington Expands Fair Chance Act Background Check Rules by July 2026
Washington updates Fair Chance Act to forbid criminal history questions until after conditional job offer, with new notice and penalty rules starting July 2026.
NJDOL Confirms Job Protections for TDI and FLI Recipients from 2026
New Jersey clarifies job protection rights for Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance recipients starting July 17, 2026, impacting employer leave policies.
NYC Finalizes Rules Updating Earned Safe and Sick Time Act for 2026
NYC finalizes new rules for expanded Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, effective July 23, 2026, clarifying employer and employee obligations.
Calif. Court: Sexual Orientation Harassment Triggers EFAA Protections
A California Court of Appeal ruled that sexual orientation harassment qualifies as sexual harassment under FEHA, invoking protections under the EFAA, impacting employer compliance and litigation risk.
Judge Denies Injunction in Meta AI Layoff Discrimination Suit
A federal judge denies temporary injunction blocking Meta layoffs alleged to target workers on protected leave using AI, underscoring employment law challenges.
Abbott Employees Sue Over Higher Costs for Same Health Coverage
Abbott Laboratories faces a class-action lawsuit by employees alleging unfair charges for identical health plans, raising legal concerns on benefit administration.
Fifth Circuit Rules No Duty to Mitigate Emotional Distress in Title VII Cases
The Fifth Circuit clarifies that Title VII plaintiffs need not mitigate emotional distress damages, affecting employment law damage standards nationwide.
California Launches AI-Unemployment Tracker to Address Workforce Impact
California launches AI-Unemployment Tracker and executive orders to monitor and mitigate AI's impact on workforce and labor laws, setting precedent nationwide.
Meta Employees Sue Over AI-Driven Layoff Process Alleging Discrimination
Meta employees sue over AI system 'Metamate' used in layoffs, alleging violations of FMLA and ADA, highlighting legal risks in AI-driven HR practices.