News & Analysis as of

Employment Discrimination Title VII

Miller Nash LLP

U.S. Department of Justice Issues New Administrative Guidance on Legality of DEI Programs for Federal Contractors

Miller Nash LLP on

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has now issued guidance outlining how federal antidiscrimination laws such as Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 apply to federal contractors that receive federal funding. ...more

Freeman Law

U.S. Attorney General’s “Guidance” to Federally-Funded Agencies and Third Parties – Another Blow to DEI Initiatives

Freeman Law on

On July 29, 2025, the Office of the U.S. Attorney General published its Memorandum for All Federal Agencies on the subject of “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination.”...more

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

Vedder Price

Sixth Circuit Splits with EEOC and Other Circuits as to Employer Liability for Harassment by Non-Employees Under Title VII

Vedder Price on

In Bivens v. Zep, Inc., No. 24-2109 (6th Cir. Aug. 8, 2025), the Sixth Circuit split with the EEOC and most U.S. Courts of Appeals as to when an employer may be liable under Title VII for harassment by a non-agent (e.g.,...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

Maynard Nexsen

Work This Way: A Labor & Employment Law Podcast | Reverse Discrimination in the Workplace with Jennie Cluverius and Fay Edwards of...

Maynard Nexsen on

In this episode, Tina and Maynard Nexsen attorneys Jennie and Fay break down the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision regarding reverse discrimination and what it means for employers and their policies. The ruling clarifies...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

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti,...

Is A Performance Improvement Plan Actionable?

Performance improvement plans or PIPs are an effective tool to document an employee’s work issues, establishing constructive goals over a set time frame. Ideally, the employee improves their performance and works with...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

Fisher Phillips

Another Employer Faces AI Hiring Bias Lawsuit: 10 Actions You Can Take to Prevent AI Litigation

Fisher Phillips on

An unsuccessful job applicant is suing Sirius XM Radio in federal court, claiming the company’s AI-powered hiring tool discriminated against him based on his race. Filed on August 4 in the Eastern District of Michigan, the...more

McGlinchey Stafford

Employment Pulse (August 2025 Edition)

McGlinchey Stafford on

McGlinchey’s Employment Pulse showcases thought leadership from our team of experienced labor and employment attorneys, providing timely insights that help employers stay competitive, meet regulatory requirements, and tackle...more

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Sixth Circuit Takes Restricted View of Employer Liability for Third-Party Harassment

For years, both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and multiple federal appellate circuits have agreed on the legal standard for proving liability for sexual or other harassment by a third party such as a vendor or...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

Phelps Dunbar

Sixth Circuit Redefines Employer Liability for Client-Based Harassment

Phelps Dunbar on

In an explicit departure from EEOC guidance and other federal court caselaw, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently held that an employer can only be liable for a client/customer’s harassment of its...more

DLA Piper

DOJ Memo Provides Guidance on Prohibited Discrimination Practices for Federal Contractors and Federal Funds Recipients

DLA Piper on

United States Attorney General Pam Bondi recently issued a memorandum to all federal agencies titled, “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination.”...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

Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

Clarifying Standards for “Reverse” Discrimination, Coupled with Other Recent Changes (see Muldrow), could have Real Implications...

Did the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Dept. of Youth Serv., 145 S.Ct. 1540 (2025), decided in June of this year, make it easier for employees to bring discrimination lawsuits against their employers? The...more

Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

Understanding DEI Policies in the Workplace Today

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has been a hot topic. In 2023, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023), eliminating race as a factor for college...more

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