Emily Tortora at Venable LLP

Axing Abortion Accommodations: Federal Judge Strikes Down the EEOC’s Rule Requiring Employers to Accommodate Elective Abortions...

In another departure from regulations and guidance issued during the Biden administration, in May, a federal judge in Louisiana found that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) had exceeded its statutory...more

7/16/2025 / Abortion , Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) , Employment Discrimination , Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) , Final Rules , Pregnant Workers Fairness Act , Reasonable Accommodation , Statutory Authority , Title VII

Defining ‘DEI-Related Discrimination’: Recent Moves by the EEOC Shed Further Light on the Trump Administration’s DEI Focus

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was busy last week in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space, offering further insight into practices and programs likely to be scrutinized following President...more

3/25/2025 / Anti-Discrimination Policies , Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) , Employment Discrimination , Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) , Executive Orders , Hiring & Firing , New Guidance , Retaliation , Trump Administration

When Mental Health and Performance Management Collide

Lisa, one of your team’s sales representatives, has been a consistent performer during her first year with the company. She has proven herself to be detail oriented, personable with clients, and willing to assist her team to...more

3/15/2024 / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) , Disciplinary Proceedings , Employer Liability Issues , Employment Policies , Mental Health , Reasonable Accommodation , Risk Assessment

Embracing and Accommodating Neurodiversity: Equitable and Legal Considerations for Neurodiverse Employees in the Workplace

In implementing diversity initiatives, employers should give thought to how their workplace can benefit from—and how they must potentially accommodate—"neurodiverse" employees. As Employers Continue to Enhance Their DEI...more

11/9/2023 / Diversity , Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) , Employment Policies , Human Resources Professionals , Reasonable Accommodation , Recruitment Policies

Dueling Over Diversity: Republican and Democratic AG Letters Highlight the Divide Over Corporate Diversity Initiatives

While the Supreme Court's recent decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College was explicitly limited to the educational setting, its prohibition of race-based affirmative action...more

7/31/2023 / Affirmative Action , Corporate Governance , Diversity , Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) , Employment Discrimination , Race Discrimination , State Attorneys General , Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard College , Students for Fair Admissions v University of North Carolina

New Updates to New York's Model Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Reflect Evolving Concerns About Harassment in the Workplace

Consistent with its obligation to revisit the sexual harassment resources it publishes every four years, New York State recently finalized updates to its Model Sexual Harassment Policy (the "Model Policy") and Model Sexual...more

5/5/2023 / Anti-Harassment Policies , Employee Training , Employer Liability Issues , Employment Policies , Harassment , Hostile Environment , Remote Working , Sexual Harassment

Identifying AI's Impact in Employment: New York City Issues New Rules for Employers Using Automated Tools for Hiring and Promotion

Attempting to increase transparency surrounding the use—and potential disparate impact—of artificial intelligence and data analytics in employment determinations, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection...more

5/4/2023 / Artificial Intelligence , Audits , Automated Decision Systems (ADS) , Bias , Employer Liability Issues , Hiring & Firing , Job Applicants , Local Ordinance , Machine Learning , New Rules

WARN-ing Bells Are Ringing: WARN Act Considerations in the Remote Work Era as Recession Threatens

Another period of financial uncertainty is looming. Considering recent mass layoffs in the tech industry, rising inflation, and other economic challenges that are projected to surface during the coming months, savvy...more

8/4/2022 / Corporate Counsel , Department of Labor (DOL) , Employer Liability Issues , Layoff Notices , Layoffs , Notice Requirements , Remote Working , State Labor Laws , WARN Act

The NYC Wage Transparency Law Becomes a Bit More Transparent: Amendment and Guidance Clarify Requirements, but Coverage Questions...

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and staffing levels remain in flux, many employers are filling open positions with new talent, predictably using advertisements to do so. Several months ago, the New York City Council seized...more

5/31/2022 / Corporate Counsel , Covered Employer , Disclosure Requirements , Hiring & Firing , Job Ads , Job Applicants , Local Ordinance , New Guidance , Pay Transparency

Don't Get Nailed: How General Contractors May Avoid Getting Hammered Under New York's Construction Wage Theft Law

As you know - in a move dramatically expanding wage liability for most construction contracts created or modified on or after January 4, 2022 - the New York State legislature amended the Labor Law last year to hold a general...more

3/16/2022 / Contract Terms , Contractors , Employer Liability Issues , State Labor Laws , Subcontractors , Wage and Hour , Wage Theft

Emily Tortora

Venable LLP

Popular Topics by This Author

Latest Publications