In October 2019, a former Philadelphia-area regional director of Starbucks, Shannon Phillips, filed a race bias suit against the coffee giant. Following the wrongful arrest of two Black men at a Center Cinty store in 2018, Phillips, a white woman, alleged that her subsequent termination amounted to “reverse discrimination.” According
Amarak Sued Again for Unpaid Wages and Failure to Pay Overtime
Aramark Corporation, a food service, facilities, and uniform service provider, faces a class action employment lawsuit. A subsidiary of the company failed to pay overtime wages to employees that have worked more than 40 hours per week, which is a direct violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), an
Do You Know Your Prevailing Wage?
City workers are essential to keeping the public clean, safe, and functioning smoothly. A significant portion of infrastructure, however, is not actually owned by the city. The MTA, for instance, which runs New York City’s subway system, is operated as a private corporation. But transportation is just one of
HSBC Executive Sues Employer For Discrimination and Retaliation
Monique Thacker, a HSBC executive who worked at the financial institution for nearly a decade, recently sued her employer for national origin discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. According to the complaint filed in New York federal court, Thacker “was subjected to adverse employment actions and treated differently and worse than her
Female Skywest Airlines Employee Retaliated Against for Reporting Sexual Harassment
In August 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against Skywest Airlines for creating a hostile work environment for female employee, Sarah Budd. Budd experienced sexual harassment from multiple male colleagues. When she reported their behavior, the airlines purportedly retaliated against her. According to an EEOC press
DC Mayor Signs Amended Ban on Non-Compete Agreements
In response to widespread criticism of the Ban on Non-Compete Agreements Amendment Act of 2020, which sought to impose a near-total ban on non-competes, the Council of the District of Columbia has amended the law and postponed its enforcement date. The revised ban, named the Non-Compete Clarification Amendment Act
Fox Sports Sued for Using COVID as a “Mask” for Age Discrimination
Nine former workers at Fox Sports have sued the network for using COVID as a front for age discrimination. In the 21-page complaint, the workers claim that they were told to stay at home due to pandemic-related office closures and then left in limbo for over a year, not
Walmart Sued For Disability Discrimination by EEOC
Once again, Walmart has found itself as a target of discrimination claims. On August 8th, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the retail giant for disability discrimation in one of its South Carolina locations. According to a press release from the agency, the lawsuit involves Walmart’s violation of the Americans
Chipotle Workers Win $20 Million Settlement in New York City for Labor Violations
Chipotle workers in New York won a $20 million settlement from their employer for violating a series of state labor laws. The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection found the make-your-own burrito company in breach of the state’s Fair Workweek law as well as Paid Safe
District Judge Protects LGBTQ+ Employee Against Sex-Based Discrimination from a Religious Non-profit
In August 2022, U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake issued a decision that reinforced the protection of LGBTQ+ rights from sex-based discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Doe v. Catholic Relief Services arose when Catholic Relief Services, a religious non-profit organization that focuses on humanitarian aid, refused to
Tesla Drives Away Attempts to Fix Culture of Discrimination
During its annual shareholder meeting, Tesla shut down several investor proposals aimed at improving an allegedly “toxic” work culture grounded in discrimination and harassment. Preliminary results from the meeting indicate that of the eight investor resolutions on the agenda, only one will survive opposition from Tesla. Three of the aborted
Home Health Care Agency and Staffing Firm Expected to Pay $2.5 Million for Overtime Wage Violations
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand delivered a decision that found a home care agency and a staffing firm guilty of collaborating to withhold overtime wages. The suit, which was filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2019, accused Elder Resource Management Inc. and Staff Source
Honda Sued for Overtime Pay Following Cyberware Attack
Honda worker, Brandon Whatley, has filed a class action lawsuit against the automaker for unpaid overtime wages. Whatley claims that he did not receive overtime compensation after a cyberattack on workforce management company, Kronos, impacted Honda’s timekeeping system. According to an article on Law360, Whatley seeks to represent all former
Class Action Suit to Proceed for Drivers Misclassified in Illinois
When employees work more than 40 hours in a week, they are entitled to time and a half pay for overtime wages. This is a law recognized under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which protects workers from exploitative labor practices of history. The FLSA establishes a federal minimum wage,
Chicken Farmers Accuse Perdue Farms Inc. of Misclassifying Employees as Contract Workers
There is no standard test to differentiate independent contractors from traditional employees. However, a number of common laws attempt to draw a line between the two employment classes. A Georgia federal court plans to consider the distinctions that define a self-employed worker in a case against Perdue Farms Inc.