News & Analysis as of

Employment Discrimination Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

When is an employer liable for harassment by customers? You may be relieved.

When is an employer legally responsible for harassment of its employee by one of its customers? A recent court decision may be a relief for employers in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Most courts ruling on the...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

If You See Something, Do You Fix It If It Isn’t Your Employee? 6th Circuit Applies Higher Standard to Non-Employee Harassment Case

An employee tells you a customer just harassed them — what should you do? In Bivens v. Zep, Inc. the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals charts its own course in addressing employer liability for third-party harassment. The Equal...more

Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

No Intent, No Liability: Sixth Circuit Narrows Employer Liability for Third-Party Harassment

Most employers understand their obligation to prevent discrimination and harassment at work, and the significant consequences that can come if such treatment is allowed to occur. But what if an employee alleges harassment not...more

Littler

The New Era of Religious Accommodations: Clarifying the Standard for “Sincere Religious Beliefs” and Evaluating Undue Hardship

Littler on

Since vaccines became available in response to COVID-19, courts have dealt with an onslaught of litigation involving religious accommodation in the workplace. Most recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit...more

Oppenheimer Investigations Group

Workplace Investigations in Litigation: Strategic Value for Both Plaintiffs and Defendants

Workplace investigations are generally conducted outside of a litigation context and involve complaints that are not ultimately litigated. However, inevitably some workplace disputes that are investigated do make it to...more

Dickinson Wright

Sixth Circuit Raises Bar for Employer Liability for Customer Harassment of Employees

Dickinson Wright on

In Bivens v. ZEP, Inc., the Sixth Circuit held that an employer is not liable under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (Title VII), for harassment by a customer unless the employer intended the harassment...more

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC

DOJ Clarifies “Unlawful” DEI in a New Guidance Memo

In a Guidance Memo recently issued to all federal agencies, Attorney General Pamela Bondi clarified what the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) considers “unlawful” DEI, as referenced in the Joint Guidance the DOJ and Equal...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

Understanding DOJ’s New Guidance on Unlawful Discriminatory Practices

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a memorandum titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” (the “Memo”), providing guidance on what diversity, equity,...more

Jaburg Wilk

When Is a Company Your Employer? Understanding the Integrated Enterprise Doctrine Under Title VII

Jaburg Wilk on

Filing a charge of employment discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) can be confusing when determining who the employer is. That’s especially true in a complex corporate environment, where...more

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

DOJ Issues Guidance on ‘Unlawful’ Employer DEI Policies, Programs and Practices

As discussed in our prior alert and seen in numerous actions undertaken since the Trump administration took office, employers should expect significant changes to the federal government’s antidiscrimination enforcement...more

Benesch

Sixth Circuit Raises Standard for Employer Liability in Customer Harassment Cases

Benesch on

When is an employer liable for the harassment of an employee by a non-employee? The Sixth Circuit answered this question on Friday in Bivens v. Zep, Inc., holding that Title VII imposes liability for customer (or other...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

The Future of DEI Programs for Private Employers: DEI-D in the Water?

Following a number of 2025 executive orders and combined guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice (DOJ) targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a July 29,...more

FordHarrison

Sixth Circuit Requires Proof of Intent for Employers to be Liable for Harassment by a Nonemployee

FordHarrison on

On August 8, 2025, in Bivens v. Zep, Inc., the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that employer liability for nonemployee harassment requires proof of the employer’s intent, a departure from the...more

Womble Bond Dickinson

DOJ’s DEI Directive: Navigating New Compliance Risks

Womble Bond Dickinson on

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum to federal agencies titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination”. The Guidance is intended to clarify how federal...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Looping in Loper Bright to Require the EEOC to Follow Its Enabling Statute

Are the days numbered for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) ability to permit plaintiffs to eschew the administrative process by issuing Notice of Right to Sue letters “on request” prior to 180 days?...more

Perkins Coie

DOJ’s DEI Federal Fund Recipient Guidance Deserves Attention by Private Sector Employers

Perkins Coie on

Key Takeaways - - A recently released memo from the U.S. attorney general reminds employers of the current administration’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. - The guidance is explicitly directed at...more

Mayer Brown

DOJ Defines “Illegal DEI,” Warns Recipients of Federal Funds to Take Notice

Mayer Brown on

On July 29, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination (the “Guidance”). Following the creation of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative by the...more

McAfee & Taft

Will expanded freedom of religious expression lead to increased tension in the workplace?

McAfee & Taft on

On July 28, 2025, the Trump administration issued a memorandum to all heads and acting heads of federal government departments and agencies entitled “Protection Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace.” The memo...more

Kerr Russell

Religious Accommodations Under Scrutiny

Kerr Russell on

Six months into the new Trump administration, it is clear that the EEOC is concentrating its efforts on religious discrimination in the workplace. Since President Trump’s inauguration, 25% of the new lawsuits or enforcement...more

Goodwin

DOJ Releases Memo Regarding Unlawful Discrimination by Federal Funding Recipients

Goodwin on

On July 29, 2025, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued further guidance regarding the application of federal antidiscrimination laws to programs and initiatives undertaken by recipients of federal funding, in the form of...more

Vinson & Elkins LLP

DOJ Provides Insight Into Unlawful Discriminatory Practices, Highlighting Enforcement Risks for Federal Funding Recipients

Vinson & Elkins LLP on

On July 29, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum offering specific examples of what the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) considers to be unlawful discriminatory policies and practices under federal civil...more

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

U.S. Attorney General Issues New Guidance on DEI Programs and Policies

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Attorney General issued a memorandum that “clarifies the application of federal antidiscrimination laws to programs or initiatives that may involve discriminatory practices, including those labeled...more

Fisher Phillips

“Regulate AI Outcomes, Not AI Tools.” Congressman Shares Vision for AI Regulation + 5 Tips for Employers

Fisher Phillips on

Speaking at last week’s FP AI Conference, Congressman Jay Obernolte set out to debunk two misconceptions about artificial intelligence. The first is that AI is largely unregulated. The second is that we need to pass myriad...more

Mintz - Employment Viewpoints

The DOJ Issues Its Interpretation of “Illegal DEI”

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum to all Federal Agencies providing guidance clarifying the application of Federal discrimination law to DEI programs and offering best practices for program compliance. The...more

BakerHostetler

Trump Administration Releases New Guidance on Unlawful DEI

BakerHostetler on

On July 30, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a new memorandum from Attorney General Pam Bondi that provides further guidance on what DEI practices the Trump Administration considers unlawful discrimination. ...more

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