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Sexual Harassment Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

Fisher Phillips

In the Crosshairs: Untangling the Legal Landscape on LGBTQ+ Workplace Rights Under Title VII

Fisher Phillips on

The EEOC recently updated its workplace harassment enforcement guidance to reflect a Texas federal court ruling that found the Biden-era EEOC had overstepped its authority by requiring bathroom, dress, and pronoun...more

Robinson Bradshaw

EEOC Guidance Partially Vacated: What’s an Employer to Do?

Robinson Bradshaw on

Savvy employers read and implemented the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace. Now, portions of that Guidance relating to LGBTQ+ employee rights are defunct....more

Berkshire

Texas Federal Court Vacates Portions of EEOC Harassment Guidance Protecting LGBTQ+ Workers

Berkshire on

On May 15, 2025, a Texas federal court issued a ruling that vacates portions of an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) harassment guidance that expanded the definition of sexual harassment under Title VII to...more

ArentFox Schiff

Federal Court Strikes Down Key Portions of EEOC Harassment Guidance

ArentFox Schiff on

On May 15, a Texas federal court vacated portions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace, concluding that the agency’s expanded interpretation of “sex”...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Take it Back – A Federal Court in Texas Vacates Portions of the EEOC’s Sexual Harassment Guidance  

Recall that just last year, the EEOC updated its Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace for the first time in 30 years. We blogged about it here. Earlier this year, President Trump issued Executive Order 14168...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Litigate or Arbitrate? Sixth Circuit Decision Looks at Timing of Sexual Harassment Claim

Can you compel arbitration with an employee who is alleging sexual harassment? You may recall that in 2022, Congress enacted the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFAA), which precludes...more

CDF Labor Law LLP

EEOC Defines Unlawful DEI

CDF Labor Law LLP on

Yesterday, the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published its guidance entitled: What You Should Know About DEI-Related Discrimination at Work....more

McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

Employers’ Game Plan for Managing March Madness at Work

As winter turns to spring, the NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments are in full swing. March Madness is often viewed as an excellent way to build team spirit in the workplace — a little friendly competition...more

TNG Consulting

Your Guide to Hiring the Right Title IX Team Member

TNG Consulting on

Hiring a Title IX Coordinator for your team requires thoughtful planning, an open mind, and strategic foresight. Through repeated collaborations with schools nationwide, ATIXA has identified actionable insights to improve...more

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission...

EEOC Sues Taco Bell Franchisees for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

Federal Agency Alleges Fast Food Companies Created Hostile Work Environment for Female Workers, Including Teens, and Fired Manager When She Reported Misconduct - DETROIT – Six related entities operating Taco Bell...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Time Was Not on Her Side: 5th Circuit Rules Unpaid Mentor’s Claim of Discrimination Is Untimely

In Title VII actions, plaintiffs have a limited amount of time to file a charge of discrimination (or a court can dismiss the case as untimely). In the case of Wells v. Texas Tech University, the timeliness dynamic was...more

Woods Rogers

Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations

Woods Rogers on

Nothing catches people’s attention like a high-profile, drama-filled lawsuit. Not every employer will deal with a Blake Lively/Justin Baldoni-level feud, but discrimination and harassment lawsuits arise in all types of work...more

Offit Kurman

Office Romance: Navigating Workplace Relationships and Managing Legal Risks

Offit Kurman on

Dear Sarah, Two of my employees have started dating, and I’m worried it might affect their work or lead to complaints from others. Should we have a formal policy on workplace relationships? Are we even allowed to have such a...more

Ankura

Conducting Crisis-led Investigations for Workplace Matters

Ankura on

An anonymous whistle-blower reports sexual misconduct by the CEO and threatens to go to the media… In the post-MeToo era, organisations face significant challenges when sensitive workplace allegations and details of the...more

Maynard Nexsen

A Month for Love: Romance at Work

Maynard Nexsen on

If television has taught us anything, it’s that romance can blossom in the workplace, especially when colleagues spend a significant amount of time together. Sam’s romance with Diane, then later with Rebecca were popular...more

K&L Gates LLP

EEOC Acting Chair Issues Statement Announcing Commission's Plans to Remove Gender Ideology and Return to Mission of "Protecting...

K&L Gates LLP on

On 28 January 2025, the Acting Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission), Andrea Lucas (Acting Chair Lucas) issued a statement announcing that the Commission is returning to its “mission of...more

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