EEOC’s first major DEI enforcement action signals new litigation risk
4/2/26
By: Kendal Ashman
In a significant development reflecting heightened federal scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced a $500,000 settlement with Planned Parenthood of Illinois. This resolution stems from an …
Sixth Circuit expands reach of EFAA: Sexual harassment claim may keep entire case in court
3/26/26
By: Madison Alvarez
The Sixth Circuit recently issued a decision with significant implications for employers relying on arbitration agreements. In Bruce v. Adams & Reese LLP, the court held that when a lawsuit includes a sexual harassment allegation covered …
Third Circuit shifts New Jersey anti-discrimination law post-Ames
3/17/26
By: Nicholas Franos
In Massey v. Borough of Bergenfield, the Third Circuit revived a white police officer’s suit of racial discrimination in hiring, reversing the district court’s grant of summary judgment and relying on the United States Supreme Court’s …
Sixth Circuit pushes back on NLRB’s Cemex strategy: Key limits on bargaining orders
3/12/26
By: Lyndsey Almeida
A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit significantly limits the National Labor Relations Board’s effort to expand the circumstances under which employers can be forced to recognize and bargain with a …
The EEOC’s new DEI enforcement posture: What employers need to know (and do now)
3/11/26
By: Sunshine Fellows
In the last few weeks, the EEOC has sent a message that employers should not miss: DEI programs and initiatives that differentiate by protected class, or that are perceived to do so in design or effect, are …
Workplace whiplash: NLRB returns to 2020 joint employer rule
3/6/26
By: Cori Agnoni
The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “the Board”) recently announced the readoption of the narrower 2020 joint employer rule (29 C.F.R. § 103.40) for determining joint employer status. Returning to the stricter standard reduces potential exposure, …
Ohio mini-WARN Act expands requirements employers must follow in mass layoffs
3/2/26
By: Kim Ullner
As more layoffs are announced in the news, it’s a good time for Ohio employers to be sure they are complying with federal and state notice requirements. While many human resource officers are familiar with the federal …
2/27/26
It is well known that employers frequently run criminal background checks on job applicants as part of the hiring process. Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act (“CHRIA”), however, protects job applicants from being disqualified from employment by …
2/23/26
By: Nicholas Franos
In Hamm v. Pullman SST, the Sixth Circuit upheld summary judgment for Pullman SST against Kevin Hamm’s complaints of harassment and claim of retaliation. This decision serves as a strong reminder for employers that the implementation …
Pennsylvania court ruling finds home health nurses were misclassified as independent contractors
2/23/26
By: Sunshine Fellows
A recent decision from a Pennsylvania federal court underscores the continued legal risk associated with classifying healthcare workers, particularly home health nurses, as independent contractors. In granting summary judgment on liability, the court in Lori Chavez-Deremer, Sec’y …
2/23/26
By: Sunshine Fellows
A recent decision from the National Labor Relations Board involving Harvard University serves as a reminder that employers conducting sensitive workplace investigations, particularly those implicating harassment or discrimination concerns, must carefully navigate overlapping obligations under federal labor …
Historic Pittsburgh Post-Gazette closure highlights labor law stakes for employers
1/9/26
By: Sunshine Fellows
In a development that has reverberated across the Pittsburgh region and beyond, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one of America’s oldest continuously published newspapers, has announced it will cease publication on May 3, 2026, after nearly 240 years in …