Workplace Sexual Assault and Third-Party Risk: What’s the Tea in L&E?
Work This Way: A Labor & Employment Law Podcast | Episode 44: Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations with Kimberly Hewitt and Antwan Lofton of Duke University
The Evolution of Equal Pay: Lessons From 9 to 5 — Hiring to Firing Podcast
Daily Compliance News: March 18, 2025, The Slack Channel Edition
Harassment in the Celebrity Workplace: Insights From It Ends With Us — Hiring to Firing Podcast
Why the Increase in Demeaning Women Online Matters for Your Workplace: What's the Tea in L&E?
The New EEOC Guidelines on Workplace Harassment
What's the Tea in L&E? Supervisor Liability: What Managers Need To Know
DOL’s Expanded Overtime Salary Limits, EEOC’s Sexual Harassment Guidance, NY’s Mandatory Paid Prenatal Leave - Employment Law This Week®
What's the Tea in L&E? One Time Too Many: What is “Severe” Conduct?
Effective Harassment Trainings: Best Approaches With Insights from NCIS — Hiring to Firing Podcast
What's the Tea in L&E? Truth Hurts or Rumors? Lizzo’s Harassment Allegations Serve As A Good Reminder
Middle East Conflict Impact on the Healthcare Workplace: An HR Perspective
#WorkforceWednesday: Major Updates to New York State’s Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy - Employment Law This Week®
The Speak Out Act and Compliance Programs
#WorkforceWednesday: Speak Out Act Takes Effect, Enhanced Data Privacy Obligations for California Employers, and SEC Releases Whistleblower Annual Report - Employment Law This Week®
Consensual With Consequences: Breaking Company Policies Without Breaking the Law
Burr Broadcast September 20, 2022
#WorkforceWednesday: Return-to-Work Behavior Policies, U.S. Soccer's Landmark Agreement, and Board Diversity in California - Employment Law This Week®
Hot Spots in Employment Law 2022
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
If an employee complains about a sexually suggestive picture circulating in the workplace that looks like her but is not, is that a hostile work environment complaint? It might be. In Lillian Carranza v. City of Los Angeles,...more
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia recently ruled that an insurer must provide coverage to its insured with respect to a civil lawsuit involving allegations of sexual assault. The case, BOJ OF WNC,...more
A law enacted in 2022 that allows people alleging sexual assault or sexual harassment to opt out of pre-dispute arbitration agreements has altered the litigation landscape for enforcing those agreements. ...more
The drama of “It Ends With Us” has jumped from the book to the big screen to a real-life legal battle that offers a sharp reminder of how retaliation and digital misconduct can derail even the most powerful players in any...more
As we have previously reported here and here, “nuclear” verdicts from California juries in employment discrimination and harassment cases have become increasingly common over the past few years. Although these massive...more
In a significant decision for employers, the Ontario Court of Appeal in Metrolinx v. Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587, upheld the Divisional Court’s ruling that quashed an arbitrator’s decision reinstating five employees...more
In 2022, a company’s Chief Technical Officer started making internal complaints about alleged sex discrimination and retaliation at his place of employment and advocating for some female executives who were allegedly not...more
A federal court recently denied a franchisor’s motion to dismiss a workplace-abuse lawsuit filed by its franchisee’s employee because the employee stated a claim upon which relief could be granted under Federal Rule of Civil...more
The landscape of workplace harassment has evolved beyond physical offices, after-hours texts and off-site events. Employers now face a sophisticated and deeply unsettling threat: deepfake technology. Once the domain of tech...more
A New York intermediate appellate court, applying New York law, has held that an insurer had no coverage obligation for a third lawsuit filed against its insured that was deemed related to two earlier lawsuits that were filed...more
There may be no single, more efficient step an employer can take to manage litigation risk from its workforce than a properly administered mandatory employee arbitration program. An employee arbitration program is a powerful...more
On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held in Oldham v. Pennsylvania State Univ., No. 22-2056 (3d Cir. May 29, 2025) that Title IX may allow for claims by non-students and non-employees. In the...more
A series of lawsuits between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, stars of the 2024 blockbuster movie It Ends With Us, have captivated both the public and the legal community in recent months. The legal battle presents...more
On May 29, 2025, in Oldham v. Pa. State University, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals held that the “zone of interest” test applies to Title IX claims. See No. 22-2056, 2025 WL 1524452 (3d Cir. 2025). The plaintiff, Jennifer...more