A bill recently filed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, if passed, would prohibit discrimination on the basis of height and weight. The proposed legislation would add height and weight to the list of protected classes covered by the Commonwealth’s antidiscrimination law (G.L. Chapter 151B) and public accommodation laws (G.L. Chapter 272, Sections 92A and 98).
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The Most Famous Elementary School Art Teacher in the United States and What She Has to Teach us About Discrimination
In the United States, certain religious schools are legally permitted to limit or discontinue student enrollment if:
the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home, the activities of a parent or guardian, or the activities of the student are counter to, or are in opposition to, the biblical lifestyle the school teaches. This includes, but is not limited to contumacious behavior, divisive conduct, and participating in, supporting, or condoning sexual immorality, homosexual activity or bi-sexual activity, promoting such practices, or being unable to support the moral principles of the school. (Lev. 20:13 and Romans 1:27.)
More Fathers Are Complaining About Discrimination In The Workplace
This week, The Boston Globe reported on a growing trend in the nation’s workplaces: more and more fathers are complaining that they are experiencing discrimination in the workplace because of their family obligations.Continue Reading More Fathers Are Complaining About Discrimination In The Workplace
DOJ Changes Course on Transgender Discrimination
Attorney General Jeff Sessions on October 4, 2017 issued a memorandum to all US Attorneys signaling a change in the previously articulated position of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on transgender employment discrimination. The memorandum, entitled Revised Treatment of Transgender Employment Discrimination Claims, states that in pending and future cases, the DOJ will take the position that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not provide protection against discrimination based on gender identity. Sessions concedes that some federal courts have interpreted the law differently, and advises his US Attorneys to preserve the issue for “further review” or appeal.
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Department of Justice Contradicts EEOC in Sexual Orientation Discrimination Case
Our April 5, 2017 post highlighted a decision of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals finding that Title VII protections against discrimination on the basis of gender extend to sexual orientation. That court referenced US Supreme Court decisions such as the 2015 same sex marriage case, Obergefell v. Hodges, in concluding that “[t]he logic of the Supreme Court’s decisions, as well as the common-sense reality that it is actually impossible to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation without discriminating on the basis of sex, persuade us that the time has come to overrule our previous cases that have endeavored to find and observe that line.”
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Holder’s Advice to Uber: Focus on Tone at the Top, Trust, Transformation and Accountability
On June 13, 2017, Uber released to its employees excerpts of a damning independent investigation report authored by independent investigators Eric Holder and Tammy Albarran, attorneys with the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP. On February 19, 2017, former Uber engineer Susan Fowler published a blog post detailing allegations of harassment, discrimination and retaliation at the company during her tenure. She also decried the ineffectiveness of Uber’s policies and procedures in addressing such workplace issues. The very next day Uber hired Former Attorney General Holder and his law firm to conduct a review of the issues raised by Fowler as well as diversity and inclusion more broadly at Uber.
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New Hampshire Supreme Court Holds that Individual Employees can be Liable in Workplace Discrimination and Retaliation Cases
Earlier this week, the New Hampshire Supreme Court issued an opinion holding that the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, RSA Chapter 354-A, can impose liability upon individual employees for aiding and abetting discrimination in the workplace, and for retaliation against another employee in the workplace of a qualifying employer.
The issue came before the New
Federal Government to Seek Salary And Pay Information From Large Employers to Address Gender Pay Gap
Seven years after the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law, the Obama Administration has announced additional steps to address the gender pay gap in this country. Specifically, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has proposed changes to the Employer
DOJ Now Interprets Title VII as Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Transgender Status
Yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memo setting out the Obama Administration’s position that Title VII specifically prohibits discrimination based on transgender status or gender identity per se.
In the memo, Attorney General Holder pointed out that questions have arisen in a number of administrative and judicial contexts as to the appropriate legal standard applicable to claims of gender identity discrimination. While courts have recognized gender identity discrimination claims under a “sex-stereotyping” theory – discrimination based on a perceived failure to conform to particular gender characteristics – there is no consensus among courts as to whether discrimination based on gender identity or transgender status, per se, is illegal.
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