News & Analysis as of

Sexual Harassment

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Workplace fraternization policies: Four "whos" and a "why"

An intimate look. No-fraternization policies generally prohibit employees with certain family or personal relationships from being in a direct or indirect reporting relationship. Let’s say Mel is VP of Sales. His...more

Sands Anderson PC

Schools Required to Show their Responses are “Reasonably Calculated” to End Harassment Under Title IX

Sands Anderson PC on

In Blair v. Appomattox County School Board, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reiterated how educators are judged under Title IX when responding to peer-on-peer sexual harassment allegations.  The Court said it is not...more

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

Sixth Circuit Requires Employer Intent for Customer Sexual Harassment Under Title VII

The Sixth Circuit in Bivens v. Zep, Inc. brushed aside the EEOC’s and several circuit court positions with respect to the standard to be used when determining an employer’s liability under Title VII for sexual harassment of...more

Saul Ewing LLP

Sixth Circuit Imposes Heightened Standard in Non-Employee Sexual Harassment Cases

Saul Ewing LLP on

Recently, in a case titled Bivens v. Zep, Inc., the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an employer will only be liable for a customer's harassment of an employee when the employer intends for such harassment to occur....more

McGlinchey Stafford

Are Employers Liable in Tort for Employees’ Sexual Assaults?

McGlinchey Stafford on

Should employers be liable in tort for their employees’ sexual assaults? Until recently, the universal answer was a resounding “no.” After all, an employer is only liable for their employees’ actions when the employee is...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

Employer Liability for Non-Employee Acts? Sixth Circuit Imposes High Standard and Rejects EEOC Guidance

Foley & Lardner LLP on

With its August 8, 2025, opinion in Bivens v. Zep, Inc., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit rejected the EEOC’s guidelines (and split with several other circuits) to hold that the standard for holding an employer...more

Maison Law

California Agricultural Worker's Rights

Maison Law on

Agriculture is an essential sector for the development and continued sustenance of any State and thus should be treated with the respect it deserves. This is why California has been enforcing various laws aimed at protecting...more

Proskauer - Law and the Workplace

Sixth Circuit Departs from EEOC and Other Circuits on Employer Liability Standard for Third-Party Harassment

On August 8, 2025, a Sixth Circuit panel in Bivens v. Zep, Inc. held that an employer can only be found liable under Title VII for harassment by a third party if the employer intended for the harassment to occur. This...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Employers, can team-building get you sued? Four risks, four solutions

Don't go off the deep end. Alison Green of the Ask a Manager blog had a great column in Slate this week about over-zealous employer team-building activities. Here’s the intro: “You’re not leaving yet, are you? Team karaoke...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

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

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

Did the Employer Intend for the Customer to Harass Its Employee? The Sixth Circuit Sets a High Bar

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently held that an employer will be liable for a customer’s harassment of an employee only when it intends for such harassment to occur. ...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

Bricker Graydon LLP

[Webinar] Trauma-Informed Intakes (Free Title IX In Focus Series) - August 28th, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET

Bricker Graydon LLP on

This one-hour webinar will address practical tips for those initial meetings with complainants and respondents, including strategies for building trust, being transparent, and gathering information....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

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

Littler

California Supreme Court Takes a Bite Out of the Rigid Application of Arbitration Fee Deadlines: Hohenshelt v. Superior Court

Littler on

Case Background - A sanitation employee at Golden State Foods Corporation, signed an arbitration agreement governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) at the start of his employment. In 2020, after reporting alleged...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

$10M California Jury Verdict Reversed and Remanded Over Evidentiary Issues

Husch Blackwell LLP on

A California Superior Court recently saw its decision reversed on appeal to the California Court of Appeal over several improper evidentiary rulings in Sabrena Odom v. Los Angeles Community College District, et al., (2025)...more

Oberheiden P.C.

Uber Sexual Assault Settlements: What Victims Need to Know

Oberheiden P.C. on

Uber Technologies (Uber) is currently facing more than 2,500 lawsuits in federal court alleging that the company is liable for sexual assaults and sexual misconduct committed by Uber Drivers. The company is facing similar...more

Woods Rogers

Workplace Sexual Assault and Third-Party Risk: What’s the Tea in L&E?

Woods Rogers on

In this episode of What’s the Tea in L&E, Labor & Employment attorney Raven Burks joins host Leah Stiegler to unpack risks that all employers have when dealing with a sexual assault in the workplace to another employee or...more

Kerr Russell

Supreme Court and Sixth Circuit Case Law Updates

Kerr Russell on

From the U.S. Supreme Court to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, courts have issued rulings that clarify — and in some cases, reshape — key aspects of labor and employment law....more

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

How Title IX Helps Online Students Against Cyberbullying

Today, many students complete educational activities online. Whether this activity is part of a hybrid class that is partially online or part of a completely online degree program, more students are turning to the internet to...more

Bricker Graydon LLP

[Ongoing Program] Level 2 Title IX Advisor Training - August 19th - 20th, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET

Bricker Graydon LLP on

Summer 2025 Higher Education Title IX Training Series - As the legal landscape across higher education continues to to evolve, it's essential for educational institutions to stay diligent and prepared. Our Summer 2025...more

4,911 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 197

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide