Federal law prohibits sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) discrimination in any aspect of employment whether discrimination takes place as part of the hiring process, the assignment of job positions, promotions, terminations, or any other condition of employment. It is also unlawful to subject employees to workplace harassment that creates a hostile work environment based… [Read More]
Sex Discrimination, Pregnancy, Motherhood
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing a popular big box retailer alleging that an employee suffered “inexcusable and unlawful” discrimination at an Ottumwa, Iowa store. The sexual discrimination suit alleges, that an employee was not promoted due to sex discrimination. The employee, who was encouraged by management to apply for an available manager,… [Read More]
Proposed Laws Offer More Protections to Employees
Employers and their employees will likely see new and amended workplace laws and rules in 2021 and beyond. If signed, the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Equality Act will help limit discrimination on the basis of sex in the workplace. Sex Discrimination Workplace Sex discrimination in the workplace can include anything from sexual harassment to… [Read More]
Highest Court Prohibits Sexual Orientation Discrimination
In a victory for LGBT workers across the nation, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex under federal law. Although a number of states, including Iowa, have long prohibited sexual orientation employment… [Read More]
Is Saying “OK Boomer” at Work Age Discrimination?
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) as well as other state law and federal laws prohibit age discrimination in the workplace. At the federal level, the ADEA prohibits employers from discrimination against employees and job applicants who are at least 40 years old, which means that workers are protected at every phase of the… [Read More]
Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit
A St. Louis police officer was recently awarded nearly 20 million dollars in a sex discrimination lawsuit against his employer. The officer, who had more than a decade of experience on the force, was allegedly told to “tone down his gayness” to increase his chances of promotion within the department because the staff “had a… [Read More]
Iowa Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Workplace Discrimination
All Americans enjoy a basic set of rights in the workplace under federal law. Some states take it a step further, offering additional protections against sexual harassment and sex discrimination at the state level that the federal law does not cover. Fortunately for Iowans, Iowa law has additional prohibitions against employment discrimination that do not… [Read More]
Supreme Court Considers Transgender Employment Rights
In a question that has divided the nations lower courts, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to rule on whether Title VII of the civil rights act prohibiting sex discrimination in the workplace also extends protection to discrimination based on sexual orientation. Federal law forbids employment discrimination on the basis of race, color religion, national… [Read More]
EEOC Holding Companies Accountable for Sex Discrimination & Harassment
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws pertaining to illegal discrimination or harassment based on sex. In light of the #MeToo and #TimesUp sex discrimination and harassment movements, the EEOC has renewed their efforts to stop this type of workplace harassment in its tracks. Just recently the commission… [Read More]
Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
In another potential landmark sexual orientation discrimination case, attorneys for a Georgia woman who claims she was fired because of her sexual orientation have filed suit with the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, Evans v. Georgia Regional Hospital, lost on appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh District, which cited a binding… [Read More]
