American Society of Employers
U.S. Department of Labor Internal Courts Enjoined from Hearing Cases

5 November 2024

U.S. Department of Labor Internal Courts Enjoined from Hearing Cases

Author: Anthony Kaylin

The U.S. Federal District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued an order halting further action in an enforcement case brought by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) against ABM Industry Groups LLC, a janitorial service provider in Houston, Texas. The case involves allegations that ABM favored Hispanic applicants over African American applicants in its hiring practices. The court’s ruling prevents the U.S. Department of Labor, the Acting Secretary of...
Employers Need to be Careful on Race-Conscious Activities

8 October 2024

Employers Need to be Careful on Race-Conscious Activities

Author: Anthony Kaylin

In recent developments, a couple of court cases need to be noted by employers who do diversity activities.  The first is the Fearless Fund case.  Fearless Fund is an investment fund that sought to administer a contest that would have awarded $20,000 grants to small businesses owned by Black women.  The American Alliance for Equal Rights (the Alliance), an organization led by Edward Blum, who led the charge against the Harvard and University of North Carolina’s...
The Real Effects of Ageism – Financial, Emotional, and Health

1 October 2024

The Real Effects of Ageism – Financial, Emotional, and Health

Author: Heather Nezich

Ageism is real in the workplace. Resume Now released findings to its 2024 State of Ageism in the Workplace report, which examines the prevalence and impact of age-related discrimination. The survey polled 1,003 U.S.-based workers who are aged 40 or older and found that 90% of respondents have experienced ageism in their workplace.

Empowering Managers to Foster Authentic Dialogue and Trust: A DEI Strategy

23 July 2024

Empowering Managers to Foster Authentic Dialogue and Trust: A DEI Strategy

Author: Linda Olejniczak

In today’s dynamic work environment, where teamwork and honesty are paramount, the role of managers has never been more critical. Managers who cultivate authentic dialogue and demonstrate vulnerability are laying the foundation for a healthy and productive workplace culture, which is essential for advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Employers Need to be Careful on Race Conscience Activities

16 July 2024

Employers Need to be Careful on Race Conscience Activities

Author: Anthony Kaylin

In recent developments, a couple of court cases need to be noted by employers who do diversity activities.  The first is the Fearless Fund case.  Fearless Fund is an investment fund that sought to administer a contest that would have awarded $20,000 grants to small businesses owned by Black women.  The American Alliance for Equal Rights (the Alliance), an organization led by Edward Blum, who led the charge against the Harvard and University of North Carolina’s race...
SHRM Removes Equity from DEI

16 July 2024

SHRM Removes Equity from DEI

Author: Lauren Cromie

recently put out a statement that they will be removing the “E” in DEI. Saying they are moving to just I&D, focusing on the importance of inclusion and then diversity more than equity. They are removing equity to focus on inclusion and diversity as a way to address the current shortcomings of DEI programs that they believe have received societal backlash and have caused increasing polarization.

Understanding the EEOC’s Approach to Religious Accommodations

11 June 2024

Understanding the EEOC’s Approach to Religious Accommodations

Author: Anthony Kaylin

In Groff v. DeJoy, 600 U.S. 447 (2023), the U.S. Supreme Court raised the bar on denying religious accommodations from showing an "undue hardship" in making the accommodation to incur "substantial increased costs" compared to the normal costs of business.  Previously, an employer could show that de minimis increase of costs would be an undue hardship. 

When Diversity Goes Awry

21 May 2024

When Diversity Goes Awry

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has been a hot topic the past few years.  The diversity and inclusion part, not as much, but the equity aspect quite a bit.  The Harvard case was called an affirmative action case, but it had nothing to do with affirmative action.  It was a case about equity and access to Harvard.  The approach taken was a quota system, which is illegal under all laws.  Diversity is not about quotas, it’s about working together to provide...
80,000 Fake Resumes Sent to 97 Large Organizations – What Happened?

7 May 2024

80,000 Fake Resumes Sent to 97 Large Organizations – What Happened?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

To test whether employers discriminate against job applicants based on perceived race based on names, economists with the University of California Berkeley and University of Chicago sent out about 80,000 fabricated resumes to 97 large employers using equivalent qualifications but different personal characteristics during the period of 2019-2021. They changed applicants’ names to suggest that they were white or Black, and male or female — Latisha or Amy, Lamar or Adam.
Misgendering in the Workplace

23 January 2024

Misgendering in the Workplace

Author: Anthony Kaylin

With gender identification becoming more fluid, there is an inherent conflict of how to identify a fluid gender employee while respecting religious beliefs.  As a result, there are more court cases filed to protect one right with a defense of the other right leaving employers in the middle and on edge at times.  This tension can cause disruptions to the culture and to productivity if not addressed properly, whatever that may mean.

Can AI Reduce Bias in HR Processes?

2 January 2024

Can AI Reduce Bias in HR Processes?

Author: Heather Nezich

Approximately one year following the widespread introduction of ChatGPT, the realm of generative AI (GenAI) has generated a mix of enthusiasm and apprehension among employees and their respective organizations.

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Holds for Employer in “Reverse” Sex Discrimination Case

19 December 2023

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Holds for Employer in “Reverse” Sex Discrimination Case

Author: Michael Burns

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled on a sex discrimination case where the Plaintiff argued she was denied a promotion twice and then the employer moved to demote her because she was heterosexual. The case involved the “unusual employer who discriminates against the majority.” This type of discrimination is sometimes erroneously referred to as reverse discrimination.

Is a New Standard for Discrimination Coming?

5 September 2023

Is a New Standard for Discrimination Coming?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Under general EEO law, federal anti-discrimination law liability arises depending on the federal circuit court of appeals in three situations:  the Sixth Circuit prohibits any “materially adverse change in the terms of employment;” the Ninth Circuit prohibits any adverse treatment “reasonably likely to deter” the plaintiff from engaging in protected activity; and finally, the Fifth and Eighth Circuits prohibit an “ultimate employment decision.” ...
Where Religion and Civility Become Loggerheads

22 August 2023

Where Religion and Civility Become Loggerheads

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Charlene Carter was a flight attendant at Southwest.  She allegedly claimed that she was fired because she objected to her union's participation in a protest for which Planned Parenthood was a sponsor.  Prior to that, Carter sent repeated messages on social media to the president of Carter's flight attendant union, expressing outrage over the union president’s alleged pro-abortion beliefs. The union president attended the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C....
Could the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) Allow Legalized Sex Discrimination?

1 August 2023

Could the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) Allow Legalized Sex Discrimination?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

A recent case from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Braidwood Management, Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, No. 22-10145 (5th Circuit Court of Appeals, 6/20/23), has opened the door for a possible super statute that can override the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In other words, a company who may be a for-profit but with a religious bent, think Hobby Lobby, could discriminate in hiring, for example, against someone of the LGBTQ community, a mother out of wedlock, and more. ...
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