A bill that would have forced Missouri’s workers to settle workplace discrimination lawsuits through private arbitration as opposed to the courts has died in committee. The bill would have strengthened the enforceability of employee contracts that require employees to settle workplace discrimination lawsuits via private arbitration as opposed to the court. The bill would have… Read More
Employment Blog
Here you can find the most recent employment law news and commentary on cases around the country. If you need assistance with employment law, don't hesitate to call us.
More Sexual Misconduct Complaints Against Missouri Legislature
Since strengthening its policies against sexual harassment complaints in 2015, the Missouri legislature has faced twice as many allegations of sexual misconduct as it did in the two years prior. Whether this is a result of more misconduct being committed by legislators or it is the impact of having created an environment in which victims… Read More
Federal Government Suspends St. Louis Housing Program
One of the unintended consequences of Senate Bill 43, that saw workplace protections rolled back and made workplace discrimination lawsuits more difficult to win, was St. Louis’s suspension from FHAP (Fair Housing Assistance Program). Last year, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development contacted Gov. Eric Greitens, who signed the bill into law, with… Read More
US Court Rules Discriminating Against Employees for Wearing Dreadlocks is Legal
The 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the EEOC, which filed a lawsuit on behalf of Chastity Jones. Jones filed a discrimination lawsuit after having an offer of employment rescinded by Catastrophe Management Services located in Mobile, Alabama. They said her dreadlocks violated company policy on personal grooming. While it is true that… Read More
Is Sexual Favoritism a Form of Gender Discrimination?
Sexual discrimination in the workplace usually conjures images of sexual harassment or gender exclusion for promotions or executive positions. In one interesting case from California in 2005, female employees sued the Department of Corrections because they were passed up for promotions given to employees who were involved in consensual sexual relationships with the Deputy Warden…. Read More
Colorado Springs Whistleblower Files Defamation Lawsuit
The state of Colorado is not unfamiliar with the impact a whistleblower can have on the future of a business, local government, or individuals employed by either type of organization. In 2016, Colorado-based company DaVita reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the federal government after a whistleblower accused the company of unethical and illegal business practices…. Read More
Former Hospital Employee Alleges Hostile Workplace in Discrimination Lawsuit
Kevin Anderson, a former employee of Mercy Villa and Mercy Hospital, has filed a lawsuit against the hospital alleging that he was fired for reporting instances of workplace harassment. The lawsuit alleges that Anderson endured a hostile work environment in which other employees called him racial slurs. Anderson claims that staff referred to him as… Read More
Amendments to Missouri Human Rights Act Shield Perpetrators of Sexual Misconduct
Among the many obstacles that Missouri’s Senate Bill 43 placed in front of Missouri workers attempting to receive compensation for employer malfeasance, it also shielded those responsible for perpetrating sexual misconduct in the workplace from being directly held accountable. An employee can still sue his or her employer for fostering a hostile work environment, but… Read More
Federal Court Finds in Favor of Transgender Funeral Director
In a case that pitted religious freedom against gender expression, the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in favor of a transgender funeral director who was fired from her job because of her gender expression. She disclosed her intent to transition to her bosses, who then fired her, the complaint said. The… Read More
Could Trump Impact Your Labor Lawsuit?
In 2017, American companies paid out a record amount in jury verdicts and settlements to American workers. Come 2018, one report says that labor lawyers raced to settle lawsuits before America’s 45th POTUS could enact legislation that would favor US companies over US employees in labor disputes. The government and labor attorneys litigated more cases… Read More