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Make your holiday party more than just merry and bright

By this time, employers have decided whether to throw a big holiday bash, skip the party in favor of other activities, or let the season pass without celebration. But for those going the party route, it’s time to put...

Nov 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Texas · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Transgender status: Shedding light on when Title VII claims exist

There’s been a lot of heat generated over the debate on the legal rights of transgender employees. Here’s my effort to shed some light instead. Claim No. 1 Is transgender status a protected classification under Title VII...

Nov 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Texas · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi

Crafting an AI policy? Consider how to balance innovation and accountability

Surveys show the workforce’s adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow, but will policymakers keep up? One recent survey found that just 36% of employees polled about their use of AI at work said their...

Nov 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Be aware of major H-1B changes: $100K payment + increased DOL scrutiny

The H-1B compliance landscape is shifting significantly. Two recent developments—a presidential proclamation and the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new Project Firewall initiative—mean that employers face both new costs and...

Nov 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

It’s better to be kind, not merely nice

There’s a difference between nice and kind. Niceness borders on people pleasing, is often disingenuous, and is seldom productive. By contrast, kindness is all about a sincere interest in others, radiates authenticity...

Nov 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Texas · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Circle K cannot circumvent lawsuit

Courts use a three-part test to see whether there’s enough circumstantial evidence to allow an employment discrimination case to get to trial. The case below is one more example that it isn’t a difficult test to pass...

Oct 15, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California

Employer burnt by scorched earth litigation tactics

After more than five years of “no holds barred” litigation, an employee received a jury award of $3.3 million. The worse news was the attorneys’ fees award of almost $5,000,000 that followed. Tough litigation tactics...

Oct 15, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California

10 ways employers negate their FMLA rights

Although the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has been in effect since 1993, employers still make administrative mistakes that limit their rights and can lead to litigation. Here is my Top 10 list of employer and...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi

4th Circuit decision highlights changed adverse employment action standard

The Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis set the stage for an increase in claims arising out of circumstances in which an employee experiences a change in their working conditions that doesn’t...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia

Employees’ free speech rights have limits, even on their own time

“I can do what I want!” “You’re not the boss of my mind!” “I have a First Amendment right to say whatever I want!” Whether from a precocious preteen or a challenging subordinate, the last of these exclamations can...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · New York · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi

OPD officer’s retaliation claim survives dismissal

The Nebraska Supreme Court recently concluded an Omaha Police Department (OPD) officer had produced enough evidence on each element of his retaliation claim to survive his former employer’s request for summary judgment...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota

Act now! Anonymous reporting hotline can strengthen legal defenses and mitigate risk

Workplace misconduct—whether sexual harassment, wage violations, or immigration-related risks—can expose employers to costly litigation and reputational harm. But one tool is increasingly proving to be a powerful shield...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California · Texas · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Despite title, new DOJ anti-DEI guidance not just for federal funds recipients

It’s no secret that 2025 has seen a dramatic shift in the federal government’s view of the value and legal validity of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives. The latest guidance from the...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · California · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Employee surveillance—learn how far you can go

“Why does it feel like somebody’s watching me?” Remember the old song with Michael Jackson singing this lament in the chorus? Employees in our current technological age may share this sentiment. More and more employers...

Oct 01, 2025 · Employment Law Letter · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington